HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania House Communications & Technology Committee took a decisive step on Thursday, unanimously approving a resolution that urges Congress to protect creative sector workers from the growing threat of displacement by artificial intelligence (AI). This marked the first official voting meeting of the newly formed committee, chaired by state Rep. Joe Ciresi.
The resolution, H.R. 81, was introduced by state Rep. Kristine Howard, D-Chester, aiming to address the profound challenges posed by rapidly advancing AI technologies. Specifically, the measure calls for amendments to U.S. copyright law, clarifying that machine-generated works cannot be copyrighted. It also seeks to combat practices such as “data scraping,” where copyrighted materials are used to train AI programs without the consent of original creators.
“Precious little has been done to address the myriad issues raised by the rapid development and adoption of a technology that is radically altering our society, our daily lives,” Howard stated. She pointed to the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content and the need for clear guidance on ownership and accountability in this emerging landscape.
Committee Chair Joe Ciresi emphasized the importance of striking a balance between innovation and protection. “This was a great first meeting where we addressed a critical issue that will be a focus of the committee’s work,” Ciresi said. “The institution of responsible protections for workers and consumers from AI while still encouraging innovation in emerging technologies is vital.” He also noted the committee’s broader mission to enhance cybersecurity and transparency in government operations.
As the creative industries wrestle with the implications of AI, the resolution reflects growing concern about maintaining the value of human authorship in areas such as art, literature, and media. Its passage by the committee represents an initial step towards broader conversations about how copyright and labor laws should evolve alongside technological advances.
With the unanimous backing of the committee, the resolution now moves forward in the legislative process. The push to safeguard creative workers from AI disruption underscores Pennsylvania’s commitment to confronting complex technological challenges while ensuring innovation does not come at the expense of fairness and creativity.
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