Gallagher, Khanna to talk AI with Musk

Elon Musk will host a conversation about artificial intelligence with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) on Twitter spaces Wednesday evening, a congressional aide confirmed to The Hill.

Gallagher and Khanna have stressed the need for balance regarding AI in the past, expressing optimism about potential benefits while also expressing concern about the potential dangers that artificial intelligence can pose. 

Khanna, whose district includes Silicon Valley, pushed for Congress to craft smart and careful regulations “to prevent any harmful uses of AI that won’t stifle innovation,” he said in an April interview. He also encouraged Democrats not to distance themselves from Musk, despite holding increasingly divergent views from the Twitter owner; rather, he said, they should engage him. 

“I’ve always engaged with him and I think he’s a brilliant entrepreneur. One of the most talented entrepreneurs in the world. But that doesn’t mean I don’t let him know I think he does things that are wrong, and I disagree with him. But I engage with him,” Khanna said of Musk, in the interview with Semafor.

Gallagher and Khanna confirmed the planned conversation to Bloomberg News. 

Khanna told Bloomberg, “I’ve known Elon for years,” and that, during the conversation with him Wednesday, “we will be examining the potential benefits and downsides of AI.”

Gallagher described Musk to Bloomberg as “the most prominent name associated with the AI pausers, those who are concerned about the existential risk and want to pause.” 

“I think that the consensus view in Congress or more broadly is that we sort of practically can’t pause,” Gallagher also said to Bloomberg. “I think thoughtfully engaging his camp makes sense.”