Sen. Adam Schiff on making Congress relevant in the AI age

The Verge interviewed Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat whose committee work includes technology, privacy, antitrust and intellectual property. The conversation focused on how the government should oversee the tech industry and artificial intelligence.

The interview took place as President Donald Trump invited AI company leaders to the White House to sign a voluntary agreement on AI safety. Schiff was asked whether such a pledge is sufficient and what a formal regulatory system should include.

Schiff supports establishing a new agency to oversee AI. The discussion also examined how court challenges could affect new rules, following the Supreme Court’s decision to end judicial deference to federal agencies’ interpretations of unclear laws.

The interview compared possible AI regulation with the approach taken toward social media. It also covered political corruption, what Democrats might pursue if they regain control of Congress after the midterms, and whether Schiff would back another impeachment effort against Trump.