Blumenthal and Durbin Push for Stronger AI Oversight in Congress
US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Dick Durbin say Congress must step up oversight of artificial intelligence firms, warning self-regulation is insufficient.
Two Democratic US senators, Richard Blumenthal and Dick Durbin, said on Tuesday that Congress must take a firmer hand in regulating artificial intelligence companies, arguing that the industry can no longer be trusted to police itself.
Speaking in Washington, the senators warned that voluntary self-regulation has proven inadequate as AI systems spread rapidly across the economy and public life. They called for stronger oversight from lawmakers, though the wire material did not detail specific legislative proposals.
The remarks came as part of a broader push on Capitol Hill to address gaps in how AI developers are held accountable. Blumenthal and Durbin have been among the more vocal voices in the Senate on the need for guardrails around the technology.
Also present was Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who was seen walking toward reporters and taking questions. His comments were not immediately available in the wire copy.
The event underscores the continuing divide in Washington over how aggressively to regulate AI, with some lawmakers favouring binding rules and others backing industry-led standards. The senators' message on Tuesday was clear: self-regulation alone will not suffice.