Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) took part in a Senate committee hearing Thursday focused on the expanding role of artificial intelligence in the United States. The Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee met to discuss a topic titled “AI and the American Dream: Promoting Innovation, Affordability, and American Dominance.”
The panel of witnesses speaking to lawmakers included experts from several major tech and policy organizations. Mike Flynn, senior vice president and counsel at the Information Technology Industry Council, testified alongside David Feith, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute.
Will Rinehart, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and Dr. Sarah Myers West, co-executive director of AI Now, also answered questions from the committee.
During her questioning, Alsobrooks pointed out that the United States needs to lead the world in AI technology while ensuring everyday citizens actually benefit from it. She highlighted how AI could potentially grow American businesses, improve government efficiency, and strengthen national security.
“We have heard the conversation about artificial intelligence and the enormous opportunity that it presents for our country. If we get this right, I believe that AI can help American businesses grow, make government and financial services more efficient, and strengthen our national security,” Alsobrooks said at the hearing. “And I believe that the United States should lead the world in this technology. But we also have to remember that innovation is most successful when people have confidence in it.”
The senator stressed that building public trust is a necessary step before the technology becomes a normal part of daily life.
“For American families, workers, small businesses, and communities, AI cannot just be happening around them or to them,” Alsobrooks continued. “It has to expand opportunity for them. That means making sure that people can trust the systems that they are using, whether they are small businesses who are trying to compete, a worker learning new tools, or a family applying for a loan, buying a home, or managing their finances.”
The hearing comes as lawmakers in Washington continue to debate how to best handle the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Over the last several months, Congress has held numerous sessions with tech developers and policy experts to figure out how to properly regulate the industry.
The primary challenge for lawmakers has been finding a balance between encouraging innovation to keep the U.S. competitive globally and creating strong safeguards for everyday consumers. As AI becomes more deeply involved in major sectors like banking, housing, and healthcare, future legislation is expected to focus heavily on protecting personal data and ensuring these new systems treat all users fairly.
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