HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania consumers would be notified when content has been generated by artificial intelligence, and defendants couldn’t argue that child sexual abuse material created by artificial intelligence isn’t illegal, under a bill the House passed Wednesday.
The bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Chris Pielli, said it was designed to place guardrails around the use of artificial intelligence to protect consumers.
“This bill is simple,” Pielli, a Democrat from Chester County, said in floor remarks. “If it's AI, it has to say it's AI. Buyer beware.”
Lawmakers voted 146-54 to send the measure to the state Senate for its consideration. All Democrats were in favor, while Republicans were roughly split.
The bill would change the state's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to require “clear and conspicuous disclosure” when artificial intelligence has been used to create written text, images, audio or video.
The notice would have to be displayed when the content is first shown to consumers. Violators would have to knowingly or recklessly post AI content, which Pielli said would help protect news organizations that unwittingly publish AI content.
It is opposed by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry on the grounds that it could expose businesses to civil litigation and would not be limited to deceptive material. The group is specifically opposed to the consumer notification portion of the bill, a chamber spokesman said.
Another provision of the bill prohibits defendants from arguing that child sexual abuse material created by artificial intelligence isn't illegal under criminal laws.
Public disclosure of AI’s use is an emerging theme across hundreds of state bills in U.S. legislatures that seek to regulate the new technology.
AI filters job and rental applications, determines medical care in some cases and helps create images that find huge audiences on social media, but there are scant laws requiring companies or creators to disclose that AI was used at all. That has left Americans largely in the dark about the technology, even as it spreads to every corner of life.
Margaret Durkin, TechNet executive director for Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic, said in a statement Wednesday that her organization expects to work with lawmakers on the definition of AI, “to decrease the uncertainty of who and what is affected.”
TechNet is a trade group of senior executives that lobbies for tech companies such as Meta and Google. Spokesman Steve Kidera said the group hopes to work with lawmakers to get from an opposed to a neutral position.
“For example, how does a football broadcast that uses AI to show predictive visual cues know when it’s the first time a consumer is interacting with their AI? If a copywriter uses a generative AI product to help them write something, are they obligated to present a disclosure? And how do they do that?” Durkin asked.
The Washington, D.C.-based BSA The Software Alliance, which advocates for the global software industry, said that as of early February there were several hundred AI-related bills pending before about 40 state legislatures. Topics covered by the bills include the risk of bias and discrimination, and deepfakes.
This story has been edited to correct the TechNet official’s name to Durkin, not Durking.
Associated Press writer Jesse Bedayn in Denver contributed to this report.
Pennsylvania state representatives held a voting session on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The House voted 146 to 54 to send the Senate a bill to require that consumers be notified when artificial intelligence has been used to generate content. (AP Photo/Mark Pynes)
PHOENIX (AP) — Mat Ishbia knows the offseason chatter around the Phoenix Suns is it's a team with a top-heavy roster, salary cap issues and precious little room to maneuver after a disappointing season.
The second-year owner doesn't believe it.
“The narrative that the house is burning is incorrect,” Ishbia said. “The Phoenix Suns are doing great. Excellent. Not as good as we want to be. Not as good as we're going to do next year. And that's what we're going to figure out — what we've got to tweak, modify and adjust to win a championship next year.”
Ishbia and Suns general manager James Jones talked with the media on Wednesday, three days after their team was swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was a weak performance by a franchise that had championship aspirations after assembling the All-Star trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.
Ishbia — who splits his time between Michigan and Arizona — is back in the desert to do exit interviews and plot out the direction of the franchise for next season.
That includes deciding whether coach Frank Vogel will return for a second season.
Ishbia said he didn't want to get into Vogel's performance because he hadn't talked with him yet, but mentioned several times he'd like to maintain continuity.
Jones supported his coach.
“I thought Frank did a great job given the circumstances,” Jones said. “We assembled a really talented team, primarily three scorers. Whenever you try to get guys to adjust and adapt their games, there's a transition time. It's sometimes a struggle, but I thought he did a great job this year.”
Vogel had a tough assignment thanks to questionable roster construction. The Suns didn’t have a true point guard — asking Booker and Beal to share that responsibility — and struggled all year with turnovers. They also had a thin bench.
Jones said the team would be open to adding more ballhandlers for next season, but it's got to be the right fit.
“Sure, that's great, but who do you want? Who is available given the way we're built?” Jones said. “Who can fit with this group? Whose game seamlessly fits with this group?”
The Suns' projected starting five for next season is under contract with Booker, Beal, Durant, center Jusuf Nurkic and guard Grayson Allen. Allen led the league in 3-point shooting percentage this season and averaged a career-high 13.8 points per game, but he suffered a sprained ankle in Game 1 against the Wolves and wasn’t able to contribute much.
The 35-year-old Durant continued to defy age with another stellar season, averaging more than 27 points per game and playing in 75 of 82 games. He’s one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, but it’s also fair to wonder how long he can play at this level.
Booker and Durant are among the 12 players who will represent the U.S. in the Paris Olympics this summer.
Booker — who Ishbia called the face of the franchise on Wednesday — averaged 27 points per game and made his fourth All-Star appearance.
“I think, over time, experience is the best teacher,” he said after Sunday's loss. “The more you can spend time and feel this hurt together, go through it together, the better off you are in the future.”
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Phoenix Suns head coach Frank Vogel applauds his players during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker walks off the court with the basketball after Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant pauses on the court during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia watches players warm up prior to Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Phoenix. The Timberwolves won 122-116, taking the series 4-0. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
