Should the Government Regulate Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence brings tremendous opportunity for business and society. But it has also created fear that letting computers make decisions could cause serious problems that might need to be addressed sooner rather than later. Broadly speaking, AI refers to computers mimicking intelligent behavior, crunching big data to make judgments on everything from how to avoid car accidents to where the next crime might happen. If a computer consistently denies a loan to members of a certain sex or race, is that discrimination? Will regulators have the right to examine the algorithm that made the decision? Some big technology companies are seeking to set ethical standards through alliances with futurists, civil-rights activists and social scientists--which critics see as an effort to prevent regulation by government.