Hickenlooper Calls for Congressional Action, Hearings on AI Regulation

"We're entering a new and dangerous era of artificial intelligence, and we need stronger guardrails to protect against the risks"

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper called on the Senate Commerce Committee to act on responsible AI regulation and begin holding hearings with leaders from across the AI industry on responsible regulation.

In a new video today, Hickenlooper outlined his thoughts on the need for more AI regulation, including independent audits of AI systems, stronger safeguards for high-risk AI, and real accountability when these tools cause harm. As data centers continue popping up across the state, Hickenlooper stressed the importance of community involvement, protecting our precious water resources, and ensuring ratepayers aren't subsidizing these facilities, especially as energy prices soar.

"We're entering a new and dangerous era of artificial intelligence, and we need stronger guardrails to protect against the risks," Hickenlooper said in a video published on social media. "The Senate Commerce Committee needs to hold hearings with leaders from across the AI industry on responsible regulation. But we can't stop there. Smart guardrails on AI will be the difference between this technology benefitting all Americans or just the companies developing it. To do that, we can't allow the fox to guard the henhouse! Congress needs to act now."

Watch his full video HERE

Hickenlooper has introduced legislation to responsibly regulate AI, including the VET AI Act, that would create a pathway for independent evaluators, with a function similar to those in the financial industry and other sectors, to work with companies as a neutral third-party to verify their development, testing, and use of AI is in compliance with established guardrails.

This week, OpenAI publicly backed third-party verification following the news that Anthropic would give independent third-party evaluators "employee-like access" to their models.

Yesterday, Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor about the anxiety Coloradans are feeling about AI and data centers. "Even as your energy bills are spiking. Even as you're worried your job could be the one that gets cut next. Even as you worry your farm is already facing a water shortage in many parts of this country…. billionaires have turned AI into a horse race focused solely on who is winning, with too little thought for who gets left behind," he said. "Now, even some of the biggest names in AI are warning that we're moving too fast. I think the question is: Do we listen? Will we listen? Will we act?"

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