U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson recently spoke with Iowa parents about protecting children in online spaces, particularly with regards to artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. At a roundtable in Ankeny, Cruz emphasized the need for a balance between regulating AI chatbots and promoting the growth of the U.S. AI industry.

Regulating AI Chatbots

Cruz pointed to measures already passed by the U.S. Senate, such as the “TAKE IT DOWN Act” and the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA), which sets the minimum age for social media platforms to 13 and requires schools receiving federal funds to block social media on campus. Hinson noted that her sons play games like Roblox, which involve interaction with others online, and that could be an area where the government could set age restrictions or put other protections in place for children.

Hinson said there were some chatbot protections included in the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Initiative passed by the House, but she believes there is more work to be done. Cruz is working on a bill that he is calling “chatbot KOSMA” that would give parents control over whether their children interact with chatbots and allow parents to see their children’s conversations.

Protecting Children Online

Cruz stressed the importance of protecting children from nefarious actors online, citing the need for the U.S. to win the competition with China to become the dominant standard in AI. He emphasized that American values of free speech, individual liberty, and free markets should guide the development of AI, rather than the values of the Chinese Communist Party.

State Rep. Ryan Weldon, who joined the panel, noted that regulating chatbots has been a serious discussion in the Iowa Legislature. He suggested that Congress should consider ways to encourage businesses to develop AI and other technologies that fall in line with safety standards.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.