This piece originally appeared at Second Best.
What is the probability of major AI legislation passing in the next 12-18 months? It may not be high in absolute terms, but I bet it’s higher than most.
We’re conditioned to be cynical about the speed of Congress, and for good reason. From immigration reform to national privacy legislation, there are wonks in Washington who’ve pushed the same issues for decades, writing and re-writing suspiciously similar reports as they wait for the political stars to align. It’s basically the Myth of Sisyphus but with drunken Sunday brunches.
Occasionally, however, Congress moves shocking fast. Consider that the $2.2 trillion CARES Act was drafted and passed just two weeks after the WHO formally declared a pandemic, and just a few months after Covid was still a blip on public health officials’ radars. That shows Congress can act quickly, especially under crisis conditions.