OpenAI CEO Calls for AI Regulation in Senate Hearing

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman — whose company created the viral chatbot ChatGPT — called on lawmakers to regulate AI in a Tuesday Senate hearing.

Key Quotes: In his remarks, Altman said, “I think if this technology goes wrong, it can go quite wrong, and we want to be vocal about that. We want to work with the government to prevent that from happening.” The tech CEO added that “regulatory intervention by governments will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful models.”

For Context: The rise of AI-powered tech has shaken several industries; education tech company Chegg’s stock price fell 48% earlier in May after its CEO told investors ChatGPT was impacting its customer growth rate. Lawmakers from both parties have voiced support for AI regulation, but some Republicans raised concerns about over-regulation stifling innovation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has reportedly met with over 100 tech experts in recent weeks in an effort to craft legislation that could pass in a divided Congress. 

How the Media Covered It: While coverage from the left was more likely to highlight calls for regulation, coverage from the right was more likely to highlight Altman’s warnings about AI going “wrong.”