Calling on the United States to champion a regional artificial intelligence strategy in the Americas to foster inclusive artificial intelligence systems that combat biases within marginalized groups and promote social justice, economic well-being, and democratic values.

Calling on the United States to champion a regional artificial intelligence strategy in the Americas to foster inclusive artificial intelligence systems that combat biases within marginalized groups and promote social justice, economic well-being, and democratic values.

Whereas the United States is a Nation built on the contributions of diverse populations, whose collective experiences and achievements have shaped the fabric of American society and made indelible contributions to its progress and prosperity;

Whereas the United States Hispanic population reached 62,100,000 in 2020, accounting for 19 percent of all Americans;

Whereas, in 2020, the United States Afro-Latino population reached 6,000,000, making up about 2 percent of the United States adult population and 12 percent of the adult Latino population;

Whereas, in 2020, the Black or African-American alone population reached 41,100,000 accounting for 12.4 percent of all people living in the United States;

Whereas the 2020 Census shows that 19,900,000 people identified as Asian alone, and 4,100,000 people identified as Asian in combination with another race;

Whereas the 2020 Census shows that roughly 690,000 people identified as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) alone but almost 900,000 identified as NHPI in combination with another race;

Whereas, in 2020, the American Indian and Alaska Native alone population reached 3,700,000 accounting for 1.1 percent of all people living in the United States, compared with a population of 2,900,000 accounting for 0.9 percent in 2010;

Whereas the United States is a global leader in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and has a unique chance to help shape the future of AI to avoid the perpetuation of existing biases against marginalized groups around the globe;

Whereas AI systems have the potential to amplify and reinforce existing biases and inequalities if they fail to consider inclusion and diverse populations in AI design and perpetuate biases and inequalities;

Whereas AI relies on the collection of algorithmic data that is chosen by the humans who design these algorithms, making it extraordinarily easy for humans’ own unconscious biases to enter machine learning models, leading to racially biased AI systems that recommend and drive decisions that perpetuate historical social inequalities amongst marginalized groups;

Whereas the world has already seen the potential for AI algorithms to neglect and exacerbate race-based disparities, as demonstrated by the statistically significant and heavily documented racial biases identified in many widely used facial recognition algorithms;

Whereas research conducted by respected institutions such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, and others has shown that these algorithms exhibit significant accuracy disparities, working more effectively on White faces while frequently misidentifying or failing to recognize brown, Black, Indigenous, and darker skinned faces;

Whereas ensuring the inclusion and representation of underrepresented populations is crucial in the development of AI to protect all children and democracy, and create a more inclusive society while avoiding the demonstrated pitfalls of AI algorithms that fail to account for diversity in their inputs;

Whereas United States funding for the development of AI must prioritize algorithms that source data from inputs and models that account for diversity to include the experiences of underserved populations in order to promote social equity and economic justice, and ensure that such communities reap the benefits of diversity in the coming age of AI;

Whereas diversity in AI development teams and decisionmaking processes also invariably leads to a wider range of perspectives, experiences, and insights, fostering creativity, innovation, and the development of AI solutions that are more inclusive, fair, and unbiased;

Whereas the Western Hemispheres abundance of diverse populations and perspectives sets it apart as a prime resource for AI development and research;

Whereas the Western Hemisphere is home to countries that are strong trade partners of the United States, as well as a rapidly expanding startup and venture capital ecosystem that creates a thriving environment for AI-driven entrepreneurship, which would foster economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement in Latin America and the Western Hemisphere at large;

Whereas the application of AI technologies in the Western Hemisphere has the potential to address complex challenges, enhance productivity, improve public services, and transform industries that connect to the United States, promoting economic prosperity throughout the region;

Whereas United States-led investments in the development of AI in the Western Hemisphere would promote the inclusion and representation of underserved populations in the global development and deployment of AI technologies, ensuring that no individual country dominates AI but rather collaborative developments in the Western Hemisphere;

Whereas the Western Hemisphere possesses a wealth of natural resources and a skilled human workforce, making it well-positioned to develop and promote future AI technologies that prioritize safety, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility;

Whereas by actively engaging underrepresented populations in AI research, development, and governance, the United States can ensure that AI technologies address the specific needs, concerns, and aspirations of diverse communities, leading to more representative outcomes and just opportunities for all;

Whereas the United States future policies for AI governance will have significant implications for the global governance of AI, influencing whether global AI technologies reflect democratic values, inclusivity, and respect for human rights or are influenced by authoritarian practices and norms, including “digital colonialism”, whereby most of the AI advancements utilized by the Western Hemisphere consumers would be developed in, and controlled by, a select few nations located outside of the region;

Whereas Western Hemisphere leader’s active collaboration with the United States in shaping the global governance frameworks and standards for AI would also contribute to a more equitable, responsible, and human-centric approach, ensuring the development and deployment of AI technologies that align with democratic principles and societal well-being;

Whereas uniting and working together with partners in the Western Hemisphere in the field of AI is essential to ensuring continued United States leadership in technology, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation across borders; and

Whereas by championing inclusion in AI and investing in AI in the Western Hemisphere, the United States can create a future where AI technologies authentically reflect the multifaceted diversity of our societies, uphold the fundamental human rights that lie at the core of our Constitution, and contribute to the realization of a world that transcends inequalities rather than perpetuates them: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) applauds the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy for publishing the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights consisting of 5 principles that should be applied to all automated systems to protect and advance civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, equal opportunities, and access to critical resources or services;

(2) declares inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) research, design, use, regulation, and deployment a priority for the United States domestic and foreign policy, and urges the development and implementation of a safe and responsible Regional AI Strategy in the Americas guided by principles that will protect and advance civil rights, civil liberties, privacy, equal opportunities, and access to critical resources or services;

(3) declares the safe design, use, development, and deployment of artificial intelligence in the Western Hemisphere to be a strategic priority for United States domestic and foreign policy;

(4) declares the creation of a domestic and international ratified agreement regarding the design, use, and deployment of automated systems is a strategic priority for the United States domestic and foreign policy in order to combat potential misuses of AI and instead foster AI systems that promote social justice, economic well-being, and democratic values;

(5) calls on the United States Government to leverage funding from the United States economic and international development agencies to invest in research and development of AI education, training, and infrastructure throughout the Western Hemisphere, with the aim of harnessing the potential of the region’s diverse populations to leverage the power of AI for economic growth, societal progress, and the betterment of all individuals in the hemisphere;

(6) calls on the United States Government to protect the United States investments in the Western Hemisphere region and global democratic values by supporting the establishment of common ethical frameworks, standards, and regulations for AI development and deployment in the hemisphere, with the goal of fostering responsible AI practices which prioritize fairness, accountability, trustworthiness, privacy, and the protection of individual rights and democratic values; and

(7) calls on the United States Government to increase its cooperation and dialogue with international organizations, such as the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Development Bank, to share resources and facilitate regional coordination in the implementation of ethical rules for AI governance, investments, and development, with the goal of launching the Western Hemisphere to the forefront of AI innovation and governance for generations to come.