James September-October 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 69
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE will have
the single greatest impact in our
lifetime, significantly transforming
our state, nation and planet. As AI’s
influence grows exponentially by the
day, it brings both opportunities and
challenges. That’s why in 2023 I began
hosting joint committee meetings with
the Senate Public Safety Committee,
where I serve as chairman, and the
Senate Science & Technology Committee. It quickly became apparent that
we needed more time and focus on
this life-changing technology.
Thanks to Lt. Gov. Burt Jones,
we passed SR 476 that created
the Senate Study Committee
on Artificial Intelligence. The
committee is comprised of
Senate members and industry
experts from across the state.
Three meetings have been held,
with five more scheduled. I
encourage Georgians to attend future meetings in person
or online, submit testimony, or
contact us directly. So to learn
more, please visit our committee
website at ga.govother-committeessenate/2024artifical-intelligence. Our
work aims to encourage innovation
while keeping our citizens safe.
Georgia prides itself on being the
No. 1 place for business over the past
decade, and to maintain this ranking
we must also lead in Artificial Intelligence. It will positively and negatively
impact our workforce by automating
countless tasks and analyzing vast
amounts of data for better decision-making. It will significantly boost
software development, law, accounting, and manufacturing productivity.
Ultimately, AI can provide efficient
and personalized customer support in
person and online.
Since the dawn of the Industrial
Revolution, major innovations have
primarily impacted the “blue-collar”
workforce. However, AI is unique in
that it will disproportionately affect
“white-collar” workers. To adapt to
AI-driven changes, today’s workforce
must acquire new skills, with critical
thinking and problem-solving becoming increasingly valuable. As a state,
we need to be prepared for our workforce to evolve in real-time to meet
these new demands and challenges.
The need for data privacy and
security protections has existed for
many years, but in the new AI world
these concerns have grown significantly. Earlier this year, I authored SB 473,
the “Georgia Consumer Privacy Protection Act.” While the bill passed the
Senate, it did not achieve final passage
in the House. This legislation is crucial
to balance the interests of consumers
and businesses. Safeguarding consumer data builds trust and confidence in
the digital marketplace, encouraging
economic growth. Additionally, it can
enhance innovation by incentivizing the development of robust
security technologies.
Strong data protection
laws empower individuals to
control their personal information, preserving fundamental
rights and liberties in the digital
age. I urge our business community to embrace this legislation in
2025 so we don’t follow the path
of states that have lost the balance
needed for successful solutions.
Ethical concerns and potential
bias in AI algorithms are significant
issues that must be addressed. AI
systems can amplify potential biases, leading to inequitable decisions
impacting individuals’ lives. Ensuring
fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI development and deployment is crucial to prevent these harms
and build public trust.
Our education system in Georgia
must also change. For the past 85
years, we’ve taught in a substantially
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