Manitowoc County’s representative in Washington is raising concerns about how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being introduced in schools and workplaces.
Congressman Glenn Grothman asked some questions of members of OpenAI, the company that runs programs like ChatGPT, along with college professors who testified before the Congressional Education and Workforce Committee last Wednesday (January 14th).
The Glenbeulah Republican stated that he’s not a fan of credentialism, or the belief that academic or other formal job qualifications are the best measure of a person’s intelligence.
He asked OpenAI Product Management Director Chaya Nayak how those interested in AI would get credits. She explained:
“It’s actually accessible on Chat GPT,” she noted. “So ChatGPT is actually taking that curriculum, personalizing it to the user, understanding their needs. And then it’s actually judging them on their ability to retain the material, similar to what a teacher would in a class.”
After asking others who have a focus in AI, Grothman gave his opinion about the technology shaping people’s minds.
“How one looks at religion, it could affect how someone looks at politics, it could affect how someone looks at history,” he explained. “And one of the things that scares me it people get a hold of this, you’ll push a politically correct view on all these topics.”
University of Texas Professor Kevin Frazier said that it’s a concern for those in AI, but he believes that there should be competition in the industry, so people who use it have a wide range of tools to use.
Grothman finished by saying that the rapid pace of AI development is not an excuse for Congress to rush into policy without careful consideration.
He also stated that the workforce, students, and the economy deserved thoughtful, practical solutions that protect Americans while allowing innovation to move forward responsibly.
