SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Attorney General is taking a stand on AI with a national team of experts.
Attorney General Derek Brown announced this week his office has created a task force aimed at creating some ground-rules for AI companies.
Brown spoke with KSL TV Friday. He said we can't wait for our local or federal governments to make new laws to deal with AI. His goal is to make sure companies have a clear understanding of what laws are already in place to protect kids and adults online, and how to operate successfully within those laws.
"A set of best practices so that these companies understand what they should or shouldn't do," Brown explained.
Brown said this task force aims to be bipartisan. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is its co-head. They are working with AI developers, including OpenAI and Microsoft, to help companies operate competitively and safely.
"A lot of these companies that have the AI component don't necessarily know where it goes, and they unleash it on kids, not understanding its implications," Brown said.
Earlier this year, the Attorney General's Office sued Snapchat. The complaint claims that the company exposes children to an AI chatbot called "My AI," which can generate dangerous and inappropriate content with no clear warning or regard to the user's age.
Brown said we can't wait any longer to have more structure around this new technology.
"We're not too late. But the reality is this is not going to just impact things in the next three to five years," he said. "It's going to impact things in the next three to five months."
Brown acknowledged that his office of 600 plus employees uses AI regularly. He said it helps them use Utah tax dollars more efficiently. However, when it comes to children specifically, companies need to be much more cautious and intentional.
"We are entering uncharted territory. We've never been here before as a society," Brown warned.
Brown did have a message for parents. He encourages Utahns to be hyperaware of what their kids are doing online. No legislative or legal solution can replace being engaged and open with their kids.