SE North Carolina News

Senators Ted Budd and Edward J. Markey have introduced a bipartisan bill in Washington, D.C., aiming to address potential public health threats posed by artificial intelligence (AI). The Strategy for Public Health Preparedness and Response to Artificial Intelligence Threats Act seeks to mandate the Secretary of Health and Human Services to devise a strategy that tackles the risks associated with AI misuse, particularly concerning biological or chemical weapons.

Senator Budd expressed concerns about AI's growing influence, stating, “As AI grows in power and influence, we may face the real prospect of AI-generated threats like biological or chemical weapons. We cannot be caught flat-footed on these threats and should begin to prepare now. I’m glad to work with Senator Markey to face potential AI threats head on.”

Senator Markey emphasized the need for proactive measures: “The federal government has fallen behind before in addressing the grave risks posed by emerging technologies. We can’t make the same mistake with the technologies of our future. Paired with robust federal investment in research, this legislation would ensure that our federal government and leading experts not only understand the grave risks of artificial intelligence to our health and safety, but are ready to act with the urgency this moment requires. I thank Senator Budd for his partnership ensuring that the federal government prepares for the public health and national security risks for artificial intelligence before it’s too late.”

Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly, promising significant changes across various sectors but also posing potential public health threats. A 2019 study published in Nature Machine Intelligence highlighted how AI could design new toxic chemical compounds efficiently. Another study from MIT revealed that Large Language Models in chatbot platforms might assist untrained individuals in developing viruses considered pandemic threats.

These studies indicate possible uses of AI in creating chemical and biological weapons. Furthermore, a recent Wall Street Journal report noted that DeepSeek, an app developed by Chinese artificial intelligence researchers, was capable of providing instructions for a bioweapon attack.