Will Hurd and Robin Kelly are from opposite sides of the ever-widening aisle, but they share a concern that the United States may lose its grip on artificial intelligence, threatening the American economy and the balance of world power. They want to cut off China's access to AI-specific silicon chips and push Congress and federal agencies to devote more resources to advancing and safely deploying AI technology. Although Capitol Hill is increasingly divided, the bipartisan duo claims to see an emerging consensus that China poses a serious threat and that supporting US tech development is a vital remedy. Kelly, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, says that she has found many Republicans, not just Hurd, the only Black Republican in the House, open to working together on tech issues. "I think people in Congress now understand that we need to do more than we have been doing," she says.

The rise of artificial intelligence has quickly revolutionized significant portions of the economy, including the transportation, health care, and financial sectors. As technology progresses, the United States must develop a comprehensive framework that addresses the opportunities and challenges within AI. The Bipartisan Policy Center has teamed up with Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) to create an AI initiative aimed at establishing a national strategy for how the United States can continue its leadership in developing these technologies while also providing recommendations for how Congress should adapt to ongoing advancements. Hurd announced the work at an October 2019 event and in a subsequent press release.

U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (IL-02) and I recently announced a new initiative with the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) to develop a bipartisan national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, which will guide how Congress and the executive branch tackle this critical issue. Kelly and I will collaborate with BPC over the coming months to bring together an array of policy experts, public and private sector leaders and consumer advocates across the political spectrum through a series of meetings to discuss the complex policy challenges within AI. Kelly and I have asked for BPC's assistance with this effort because of their leadership in evidence-based policymaking and bipartisan collaboration to solve national problems. If America loses its advantage in technology, it will have a devastating effect on our economy and national security. We need a national AI strategy to ensure the U.S. is prepared to lead on technology that will define the course of this century. I am excited to once again work with my friend and colleague, Rep. Kelly, to tackle this important issue. "In order to maintain a strong economy and national defense, America must preserve our technological edge.