Commission on

Cover
Artificial
Intelligence
Competitiveness,
Inclusion, and
Innovation

Executive Summary
This report is reflective of the Commission on Artificial Intelligence
Competitiveness, Inclusion, and Innovation only.
Foreword
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used
by all important actors in every aspect of our
economy and society, both domestically and
globally. Yet in many ways, in terms of technology,
economic impact, and AI policy development,
we are in the initial stages of a new age.

By the end of this decade, AI is projected

to increase global economic growth by
$13 trillion. AI is already having a positive
impact by helping hospitals address nursing
shortages through patient monitoring, helping
emergency management officials map wildfire
paths for quicker and better responses, and
broadening financial inclusion by expanding job
applicant pools and new avenues of credit.

As with any innovative technology, important

concerns have been raised as well. Many have
asked what AI means for humanity; governments
struggle to match policies with technologies
that are developing at an exponential pace;
and workers are concerned about what AI
means for them. America’s competitors, such
as China, realize the importance of establishing
dominance by developing emerging technologies,
and others in the international community,
such as the European Union, are attempting
to write the first regulations governing AI.

4 | AI Commission Report
All of these issues must be debated and addressed The Commission’s work also builds on
in a deliberative and sober manner to create the past work of the Chamber’s Technology
appropriate policies that will provide the pathway Engagement Center, which put forth industry
for the development and deployment of AI in census–driven privacy and AI principles.
a responsible and ethical manner. At the core of
the debate is this simple premise—for Americans I would like to thank former Congressmen
to reap the benefits of AI, people must trust it. John Delaney (D-MD) and Mike Ferguson
(R-NJ) in particular for their extraordinarily
The private sector must be a serious effective leadership. Thank you, too, to all of
partner in this process. the Commissioners who have devoted their
time, energy, and ideas to this report.
Recognizing the critical role of the business
community in this AI debate, in 2022, the It is time for action. We hope the Commission’s
U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched the recommendations will spur additional dialogue
Commission on AI Competitiveness, Inclusion, and ideas. And we pledge to work to accelerate
and Innovation (“Commission”). This bipartisan urgent efforts by business and government
and multistakeholder Commission is comprised to enact AI policies that will help harness the
of the private sector, academia, and civil society. benefits and address the important challenges.
The Chamber charged the Commission with
a mission to consider the complex issues
and real-world impacts that AI will have
economically, individually, and globally. David Hirschmann

Over the past 12 months, the Commission President & CEO

has heard from a diverse array of experts Chamber Technology
in Austin, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; Palo Alto, Engagement Center
California; London, England; and Washington,
D.C. because the private sector has a major
stake in ensuring economic prosperity and
growth for Americans in a digital age, raising
an educated and skilled 21st-century workforce,
and promoting individual rights and fairness.

Chamber Technology Engagement Center | 5

A Message from
the Commission’s
Co-Chairs
By almost any measure, innovation and advances If we look at history, we see the benefits of good
in technology have improved the condition collaboration between the public sector and the
of humanity. From advances in medicine and private sector in addressing similar situations.
extension of life to improved living and working In fact, the best societal outcomes are often
conditions and environmental sustainability, achieved when the government and private
innovation has driven broad-based social progress. sectors work well together. Through a transparent
and open discussion—with all parties at the
Although progress has been steady and meaningful, table—we can work to develop policies that
it is not always positive for everyone because allow for better outcomes for all. That has been
change is highly disruptive, sometimes destructive, the Commission’s spirit and approach.
and often comes without proper societal planning
and protections. AI similarly presents enormous It has been an honor to cochair the Commission
opportunity for social advancement, which is with former Congressman Mike Ferguson, and I am
our ultimate goal. It will also present, however, grateful to all of our Commissioners. I believe our
significant hurdles and challenges. From national recommendations will provide policymakers with an
security implications to privacy concerns to important framework for more specific policy making.
ensuring that harmful biases are not hardwired
into the next generation of technological
systems, AI presents unique challenges. We The Honorable John Delaney
must address these issues clearly so that we can
shape appropriate responses and achieve our Former Member of Congress (D-MD)
goal, which is to allow the innovation machine to and Co-Chair, U.S. Chamber of
continue to work its magic and improve society, Commerce Commission on Artificial
while protecting the basic rights of our citizens. Intelligence Competitiveness,
Inclusion, and Innovation

6 | AI Commission Report
It has been an honor to cochair the U.S. Chamber’s
Commission on AI Competitiveness, Inclusion,
and Innovation. The Commission has brought
together some of the top minds in academia,
industry, and civil society to find consensus
on an important and timely issue of how to
position the United States to best to lead in
the development and deployment of AI.

We have traveled the world together the past

year, talking with leading experts, civil society,
unions, government officials, and other important
stakeholders. The Commission saw no shortage of
ideas and thoughts about regulating AI, training
our future workforce, and positioning the United
States to compete globally. As I learned during
my time in Congress, these discussions and
opportunities to hear many different viewpoints
and perspectives are important in one’s ability
to strike the correct balance and to provide
the best recommendations to solve a specific
problem. I believe the Commission’s work has
struck this balance and will provide government
officials, private industry, and advocacy groups
with a set of key principles to start a further
discussion. I appreciate my fellow cochair Rep.
John Delaney for his expertise and constant
willingness to work through these issues.

The Honorable Mike Ferguson

Former Member of Congress (R-NJ),

and Co-Chair, U.S. Chamber of
Commerce Commission on Artificial
Intelligence Competitiveness,
Inclusion, and Innovation

Chamber Technology Engagement Center | 7

AI Commission
Members

Co-chairs:

Congressman Congressman
John Delaney (D-MD) Mike Ferguson (R-NJ)

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Commissioners:

Alexandros Dimakis Christina Montgomery

Professor, ECE Department, UT Chief Privacy Officer and
Austin; Co-director, National Vice President, IBM
AI Institute on the Foundations
of Machine Learning (IFML)

Rachel Gillum Brent Orrell

Head of Global Policy, Office Senior Fellow, American
of Ethical and Humane Use Enterprise Institute
of Technology, Salesforce

Jerry Jones Osonde Osoba

Chief Ethics and Legal Senior AI Researcher,
Officer, LiveRamp Fairness, LinkedIn

Shekar Katuri Adam Thierer

AI Program, Strategy, and Senior Fellow, R Street Institute
Governance Executive,
Bank of America

Chris Meserole Conrad Tucker

Director, AI Initiative, Arthur Hamerschlag Career
Brookings Institution Development Professor of
Mechanical Engineering,
Carnegie Mellon University

Chamber Technology Engagement Center | 9

Executive
Summary
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is expanding concerns for the United States and its allies.
rapidly. These technological breakthroughs Another critical factor that will affect the path
present both opportunity and potential peril. forward in the development of AI policy making is
how nations historically consider important values,
AI technology offers great hope for increasing such as personal liberty, free speech, and privacy.
economic opportunity, boosting incomes, speeding
life science research at reduced costs, and simplifying To maintain its competitive advantage, the United
the lives of consumers. With so much potential for States, and like-minded jurisdictions, such as the
innovation, organizations investing in AI-oriented European Union, need to reach agreement to resolve
practices are already ramping up initiativesi1 that key legal challenges that currently impede industry
boost productivity to remain competitive. growth. At this time, it is unclear if these important
allies will collaborate on establishing a common set
Like most disruptive technologies, these of rules to address these legal issues or if
investments can both create and displace a more competitive—and potentially damaging—
jobs. If appropriate and reasonable protections legal environment will emerge internationally.
are not put in place, AI could adversely affect
privacy and personal liberties or promote bias. AI has the capacity to transform our economy, how
individuals live and work, and how nations interact with
Policymakers must debate and resolve the questions each other. Managing the potential negative impacts
emanating from these opportunities and concerns of this transition should be at the center of public
to ensure that AI is used responsibly and ethically. policy. There is a growing sense that we have a short
window of opportunityii to address key risks while
2

This debate must answer several core questions: maximizing the enormous potential benefits of AI.
What is the government’s role in promoting the kinds
of innovation that allow for learning and adaptation The time to address these issues is now.
while leveraging core strengths of the American
economy in innovation and product development? In 2022, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce formed the
How might policymakers balance competing interests Commission on AI Competitiveness, Inclusion, and
associated with AI—those of economic, societal, Innovation (“Commission”) to answer the questions
and quality-of-life improvements—against privacy central to this debate. The Commission, cochaired
concerns, workforce disruption, and built-in-biases by former representatives John Delaney (D-MD) and
associated with algorithmic decision-making? And Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), was tasked with the mission
how can Washington establish a policy and regulatory to provide independent, bipartisan recommendations
environment that will help ensure continued U.S. to aid policymakers. Commissioners met over the
global AI leadership while navigating its own course course of a year with over 87 expert witnesses during
between increasing regulations from Europe and five separate field hearings across the country and
competition from China’s broad-based adoption of AI? overseas, while also receiving written feedback from
stakeholders answering three separate requests
The United States faces stiff competition from for information posed by the Commission.
China in AI development. This competition is so
fierce that it is unclear which nation will emerge The Commission observed six major
as the global leader, raising significant security themes from its fact finding.

i. J . McKendrick, AI Adoption Skyrocketed Over the Last 18 Months, Harvard Business Review: Innovation (Sept. 27, 2021), https://hbr.
org/2021/09/ai-adoption-skyrocketed-over-the-last-18-months.
ii. Y. Atsmon, K. Baroudy, P. Jain, S. Kishore, T. Saleh, B. McCarthy, and S. Nair, Tipping the Scales in AI: How Leaders Capture Exponential
Returns, McKinsey & Company, Whitepaper Report (Apr. 23, 2021), https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecom-
munications/our-insights/tipping-the-scales-in-ai.

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Key 1. The development of AI and the introduction of
AI-based systems are growing exponentially.

Takeaways Over the next 10 to 20 years, virtually every

business and government agency will use AI.
This will have a profound impact on society,
the economy, and national security.

2. Policy leaders must undertake initiatives to develop

thoughtful laws and rules for the development
of responsible AI and its ethical deployment.

3. A failure to regulate AI will harm the

economy, potentially diminish individual
rights, and constrain the development and
introduction of beneficial technologies.

4. The United States, through its technological

advantages, well-developed system of
individual rights, advanced legal system,
and interlocking alliances with democracies,
is uniquely situated to lead this effort.

5. The United States needs to act to ensure

future economic growth, provide for a
competitive workforce, maintain a competitive
position in a global economy, and provide
for our future national security needs.

6. Policies to promote responsible AI must

be a top priority for this and future
administrations and Congresses.

12 | AI Commission Report
Understanding the importance of these
findings, the Commission also determined
that the following five pillars should be at
the core of AI regulatory policy making:

Five Pillars for AI Regulation

Efficiency. Collegiality.
Policymakers must evaluate the applicability Federal interagency collaboration is vital to
of existing laws and regulations. Appropriate developing cohesive regulation of AI across the
enforcement of existing laws and regulations government. AI use is cross-cutting, complex, and
provides regulatory certainty and guidance to rapidly changing and will require a strategic and
stakeholders and would help inform policymakers coordinated approach among agencies. Therefore,
in developing future laws and regulations. the government will need to draw on expertise from
Moreover, lawmakers should focus on filling the different agencies, thus allowing sector and
gaps in existing regulations to accommodate agency experts the ability to narrow in on the most
new challenges created by AI usage. important emerging issues in their respective areas.

Neutrality. Flexibility.
Laws should be technology neutral and focus Laws and regulations should encourage private
on applications and outcomes of AI, not the sector approaches to risk assessment and
technologies themselves. Laws regarding AI innovation. Policymakers should encourage soft
should be created only as necessary to fill gaps law and best practice approaches developed
in existing law, protect citizens’ rights, and foster collaboratively by the private sector, technical
public trust. Rather than trying to develop a one- experts, civil society, and the government.
size-fits-all regulatory framework, this approach to Such nonbinding, self-regulatory approaches
AI regulation allows for the development of flexible, provide the flexibility of keeping up with
industry-specific guidance and best practices. rapidly changing technology as opposed to
laws that risk becoming outdated quickly.

Proportionality.
When policymakers determine that existing laws
have gaps, they should attempt to adopt a risk-
based approach to AI regulation. This model
ensures a balanced and proportionate approach
to creating an overall regulatory framework for AI.

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Recommendations
Having understood the urgency to develop policies
to promote responsible AI and to ensure economic
and workforce growth, the Commission used
these pillars to develop policy recommendations
to put these priorities into action. The Commission
recommends areas that policymakers must
address, including preparing the workforce through
education, bolstering global competitiveness in
the areas of intellectual property while shoring up
partnerships, and protecting national security.

Preparing the Workforce

• Use an Evidence-Based Approach: • Train and Reskill: The public and private sectors
Policymakers must take action to understand must invest in training and reskilling the
the potential impact of AI on the American future workforce. These investments should
workforce by leveraging new data sources be targeted toward programs that help ease
and advanced analytics to understand worker transitions and improve incentives for
the evolving impact of AI and machine businesses to invest in retraining. Policymakers
learning on the American public. should also leverage community colleges
and vocational schools to train workers to
• Educate the Future Workforce: The United perform jobs alongside AI-enabled systems.
States must increase education around
AI in both the K-12 and higher education • Attract High-Skilled Talent: In areas where
systems by encouraging policymakers a worker shortage cannot be addressed
to reform the standard curriculum to through education, training, and reskilling,
better prepare students for developing Congress must act to increase the AI talent
AI and machine learning systems. pool through targeted refinements to the
H-1B visa process to encourage high-
skilled immigration to the United States.

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Bolstering Global Competitiveness Protecting National Security

• Shore Up Global Partnerships: U.S. officials • Human Rights: The United States must
must collaborate with key partners and drive the development and implementation
allies to develop more sensible global of laws and codes of conduct focused on
governance frameworks that advance our promoting human rights and innovation.
common democratic goals and values.
• Establish International Rules of Conduct: As
• Advance Intellectual Property Protections: the United States leads in the development
Building on the foundation of the current of AI-enabled weapons, it should follow
system, policymakers must clarify intellectual and encourage other countries to align with
property law requirements to ensure existing international norms and laws.
adequate protection of AI-enabled intellectual
property. Before any change, policymakers • Systems Validation: The U.S. should invest
must involve relevant stakeholders to heavily in new ways of testing, evaluating,
consider potential unintended effects. verifying, and validating (“TEVV”) military
AI and machine learning systems to
• Provide Necessary Resources: Policymakers ensure that they are used safely.
should provide additional resources to the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to support • Streamline Procurement: To capitalize
the acquisition of technical expertise, on American ingenuity, Congress and
training, and other resources to speed the Pentagon must look at streamlining
the review of AI- and machine learning– acquisition processes and finding new ways
related public patent applications. of incorporating industry expertise and
experience within the military enterprise.
• Protect Ingenuity: Policymakers should
also explore opportunities to grant • Work with Allies: The United States should
provisional approvals for submissions look to open investment opportunities
under review where appropriate to for AI-enabled systems to like-minded
mitigate the effects of lengthy delays. countries and allies and vice versa.

These findings and recommendations are not

exhaustive, and we welcome the insights of others
who may contribute to the AI policy debate. The
Commission and individual Commissioners stand
ready to collaborate with policymakers to address
these issues that are of utmost importance
to the United States and the economic well-
being and safety of the global community.

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