Leaders of the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation introduced a bill Tuesday that would direct Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to create a working group to develop an AI initiative within the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance.
The Five AIs Act – authored by Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wisc., and Ro Khanna, D-Calif. – would allow the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada to speed up the advancement of AI technology in an attempt to counter China’s pursuit of global digital dominance.
“It is imperative that we prevent our adversaries, particularly the Chinese Communist Party, from weaponizing AI to advance their military ambitions and perfect their repressive techno-totalitarian surveillance states,” Rep. Gallagher said in a statement. “That means ensuring the Free World continues to lead when it comes to AI innovation combined with sensible guardrails for AI use.”
“The Five AIs Act is a bipartisan, common-sense bill that will ensure AI is advanced, tested, evaluated, and dominated by the members of the Five Eyes Alliance who share a common mission and shared strategy to use AI for good,” he added.
According to the 10-page bill, the Five AIs Act would direct the working group – coordinated by the secretary of Defense and the director of national intelligence – to compare and test advanced AI systems; identify ways to collaborate on AI for intelligence sharing; develop a strategy for research and employment of AI systems; compare ethical frameworks to speed up the advancement of AI tech; and leverage commercially available AI technologies to advance near-term jointness between the armed forces and intelligence components of each country.
Notably, the legislation would require the working group to identify potential solutions to “advance and accelerate the interoperability of artificial intelligence systems used for intelligence sharing, battlespace awareness, and other covered operational uses.”
“AI is a powerful technology that has the potential to strengthen our economy and national security for years to come. As the technology progresses, it is critical that the federal government prepares for any harmful ways AI could be used by our adversaries,” Rep. Khanna said in a statement.
“I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Gallagher to ensure that America leads in the 21st century and that we work with our allies to develop a strategy to advance the benefits of AI while preparing for any potential threats in the future,” the congressman said.
The legislation has been referred to the House Committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Intelligence for further consideration.
