Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) said Monday he has formed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Opportunity Task Force comprised of House Republican lawmakers who will engage with experts and stakeholders to inform future legislative policy decisions relating to artificial intelligence, including the human-centric ethical development of this emerging technology, along with appropriate safeguards.

Announcing the formation of the task force in a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Chief Justice Debra Todd, and inviting their participation, Cutler noted the importance of forming this task force now.

“It is our responsibility to thread the delicate needle between protecting our citizens from misuse and abuse of AI while at the same time embracing the spirit of ingenuity and entrepreneurship that opened this new frontier,” Cutler said in the letter. “The time has passed for asking ‘Should we utilize AI?’ We already are; this change is irreversible. Rather, the time is now to ask, ‘How can we, as the entrusted public servants of this Commonwealth, utilize AI in order to achieve what is so important to all of us – a thriving economy, affordable living, safe communities, and family-centered opportunities for our children to learn, grow and thrive?’”

Making up the AI Opportunity Task Force are:

• Rep. Alec Ryncavage (R-Luzerne).
• Rep. Stephenie Scialabba (R-Butler).
• Rep. Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia).
• Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny).
• Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny).

In the immediate term, the AI Opportunity Task Force will develop guiding principles and standards by which it will operate. Those principles and standards will help narrow the scope of review on legislation already in the works and inform the innovative and thoughtful legislative policy to be developed by this task force.

“The job set before the task force is not small and we do not expect a single, hasty set of recommendations. Indeed, we do not expect the challenges before this task force will remain the same over the course of its members’ service,” Cutler added. “So instead, we encourage the task force to view its role as ongoing and to provide periodic reports and recommendations as it deems most effective.”