“It benefits all of us for America to lead in AI.”
In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly gave a keynote speech in November at Stanford University’s “AI & the Economy: Opportunities, Risks, and Policy for Shared Prosperity” forum where he discussed his AI for America plan, a roadmap to seize the AI boom and make the technology successful for all Americans, not just a few big companies.
Sen. Kelly speaks at Stanford’s Institute for Economic Policy Research.
Watch the full keynote speech and conversation here. See key excepts below:
On why he released his AI for America roadmap…
“As an engineer by training, a former test pilot, and commander of the space shuttle, I’ve been at the forefront of innovation throughout my career and applied it in matters of life and death—literally. Whether it’s ChatGPT, which I use almost every day—Grok, Gemini, Claude, Llama, or other generative tools, I see how AI is poised to change so much of our lives. [..]
“It benefits all of us for America to lead in AI. And it was our workforce, infrastructure, and innovation that got us to where we are in the first place. But while I hear those questions being asked in so many places around the country, I seldom hear them being asked in one place I spend a lot of time: Washington, D.C.
“That’s why, in September I released AI for America, a roadmap that identifies policy gaps and provides recommendations on how to tackle them. We spent months speaking with labor leaders, tech experts, local governments, CEOs, universities, and non-profits. Because the technology and the problems that we face are dynamic, and government needs to be agile – which is not something Washington, D.C., is known for. We can build the foundations right now for an AI boom that benefits all Americans, not just a few tech billionaires, and supports responsible tech innovation and development for years to come.”
On AI’s promise…
“We are in what many see as a race to dominate AI to be not just the most advanced or the first past any given milestone, but to be home to the models and hardware that the world depends on. It holds the promise to accelerate scientific discovery, cure diseases, expand economic opportunity, increase productivity, and improve quality of life for millions of people. With all that promise, comes a huge amount of responsibility. We have to approach this exciting moment with clear eyes. When technology moves faster than policy, people can get hurt.”
On making AI work for the next generation of workers…
“Now, the best way to prepare for the jobs of the future is early exposure to AI. If students can start using AI as a tool, rather than a crutch, they will be better prepared to succeed. Community college and university partnerships with the employers who are using AI tools will help students develop the skills to take on an AI-driven job market. Registered apprenticeships, credentialing, and public-private partnerships are some of the ways we can increase the chances of young people finding good-paying jobs after school.
“All of this is possible if we resource it through the AI Horizon Fund, with our focus set on supporting and preparing workers. It has to be worker focused. And it rewards industry with the next generation of innovators industry will need.”
On making sure AI works for all Americans, not just a few major tech companies…
“My goal with AI for America is to raise important questions about how the AI boom and its continued development can put workers at the forefront, strengthen our public infrastructure, protect the landscapes we cherish, benefit communities as it expands, protect users, and ensure that this new, exciting chapter benefits all Americans, not just a wealthy few. My proposal is meant to be the start of a conversation.”
