Representatives of different groups offered their input on the scope, timeline, goals, and, in some cases, the necessity of a proposed Artificial Intelligence Task Force in Washington state in the first hearing on Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s plan to help state policymakers get a better handle on fast-moving AI technologies.
But the proposed size of the group, 42 members, was perhaps the biggest conundrum to emerge from the hearing Wednesday morning before the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology committee in Olympia.
“We still think this is a very large task force,” testified Bob Battles of the Association of Washington Business, one of the groups that would have a representative on the task force under the legislation. “We appreciate it was narrowed down from about 72, but it’s a very cumbersome size. That’s a concern.”
He added, “While we don’t want to lose spots on it, and I appreciate having a spot on it … we want to make sure this is an equitable setup.”
Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), presiding over the hearing, pointed out that 42 is the meaning of life, paraphrasing ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ in a nod to “the sci-fi nerds out there.” She added, “So maybe that will work.”
A similarly sized blockchain working group in Washington state, established in 2022, was never able to formally meet due to scheduling conflicts that left it unable to establish a quorum where a majority of members were present.
Joyce Bruce, legislative director for the AG’s office, testifying at the hearing, said the task force as proposed would bring together representatives across the public and private sectors — “all of the needed perspectives to really identify how the state should prioritize the most risky uses of this technology and the benefits of the technology.”
The legislation, SB 5838 and the companion HB 1934, would establish a task force to assess current uses and trends in AI and make recommendations to the legislature regarding standards and regulation. As reported by GeekWire in December, the group including representatives from the legislature, state agencies, tribes, trade groups, civil liberties organizations, education, consumer advocates, businesses, and many others.
Ferguson worked with Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, and Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, to introduce the bills as part of a slate of “Attorney General Request” bills introduced in every legislative session.
“We are a state that is leading the nation, if not the world, in this space, given the technology companies that we have here, the investments that are being made here,” said Nguyen, a former Microsoft senior program manager, at the hearing Wednesday. He said it’s important to “ensure that we’re doing it in a thoughtful way that is being mindful of the people who are being impacted.”
In general, those supporting the proposal expressed optimism that the task force would help guide the state’s response to AI, while opponents expressed concerns about potential overregulation stifling innovation, and conflicting with federal efforts to regulate and legislate artificial intelligence.
In a joint letter in advance of the hearing, on Jan. 8, representatives of the AWB, TechNet, Washington Technology Industry Association, Washington Hospitality Association, and Washington Retail Association wrote, in part:
As we have previously shared, in evaluating the establishment of a taskforce we consider our support based on the following:
- the need for clear definitions;
- an equitable composition of the members;
- a focused scope which does not presuppose a regulatory framework and is inclusive of the economic development potential of the technology;
- and a neutral administrator of the taskforce, such as WaTech [the state’s IT agency].
We appreciate the continued winnowing of the number of participants. However, we remain concerned that the size of the group will be cumbersome and costly to administer. Further, the composition of members lacks equitable industry participation, particularly with AI expertise. We recommend that there be a continued contraction of the total number of task force members while increasing the ratio of industry representation.
Finally, given the broad scope and complexity we recommend extending the deadlines for interim recommendations to the legislature to December 1, 2026 with a final report in late 2027. Given the breadth and number of impacted agencies, industries, and individuals the proposed timeline is inadequate for a comprehensive review and recommendations.
In addition, Kelly Fukai of the WTIA said the trade group is specifically advocating that there be a standing committee that explores technology broadly, not limited to artificial intelligence: “Continuing to address regulatory issues and economic opportunity by standing up individual task forces every time a new technology comes to market isn’t helpful.”
Gov. Jay Inslee has not taken a formal position on the proposed task force.
Reached via phone Wednesday morning, Inslee’s tech policy advisor Joseph Williams expressed similar concerns about the proposed size of the group, but said the task force proposal is timely, and pointed out that it’s not tasked by the bills to do anything other than study the issues and make recommendations.
“This is a good time to undertake that,” Williams said.
