Draft bill from Ted Cruz would establish a federal AI sandbox in OSTP

"In documents reviewed by Nextgov/FCW, the proposed regulatory sandbox program created within OSTP would allow participating AI companies to receive temporary exemption from external AI regulations. These temporary waivers would be available for "one or more covered provisions of an applicable agency in order to test, experiment, or temporarily provide to consumers artificial intelligence products or services or artificial intelligence development methods on a limited basis without being subject to the enforcement, licensing, or authorization requirements of such covered provisions.""

"Part of Cruz's proposed program, which was first reported by Bloomberg, would create a review process to determine whether an AI software applying for an exemption waiver presents "a health and safety risk, a risk of economic damage, or a risk of unfair and deceptive trade practices." The bill further calls for the specific assessment and evaluation criteria to be published in the Federal Register with an open comment period."

"Cruz first announced his intent to propose an AI sandbox bill back in May, with the ultimate goal being to remove barriers to AI adoption and prevent overregulation at the state level. The first draft of his sandbox bill addresses the failed 10-year moratorium that was originally part of the recent budget reconciliation package and would have prohibited the passage of new state-level AI regulation for the next decade by offering waivers on existing regulations for companies testing their AI in the sandbox program."

A federal artificial intelligence sandbox program would be established under the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to evaluate AI safety and efficacy. Participating companies could receive temporary exemptions from external AI regulations to test products, services, or development methods on a limited basis. The program would include a review process to assess potential health and safety risks, economic damage, and unfair or deceptive trade practices. Specific assessment and evaluation criteria would be published in the Federal Register with an open comment period. The draft aims to reduce regulatory barriers and offers waivers addressing a previously proposed 10-year moratorium on state AI rules.

Read at Nextgov.com