Washington creates AI Task Force that includes a hard look at training data

Washington State’s new AI Task Force will include 19 members and consider important public policy and privacy issues, including the potential regulation of training data.

In a positive step for the ethical regulation of AI models, a bill to create a state Artificial Intelligence Task Force was signed into law earlier this week by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.  

The 19-member AI Task Force, coordinated by the office of Attorney General Bob Ferguson, will meet at least twice a year and submit reports on the benefits and risks of generative AI, the impact of AI on racial equality and civil liberty issues, workforce impacts, data privacy, and other concerns.

Importantly, the new AI Task Force will also consider the appropriate regulation of training data. That’s something the Transparency Coalition took an active role in advocating among the bill’s sponsors in Olympia, and we’re looking forward to continuing that work as the Task Force carries out its work over the next two years.

Senate Bill 5838’s primary sponsor, state Sen. Joe Nguyen (D), spoke to the urgency and interest in the Task Force earlier this year. “Oftentimes, it is difficult to fill workgroups, or task forces that the Legislature passes,” he said. “This is not one of those cases.” Originally proposed at 72 members, the group’s size eventually narrowed to 19 to make coordination more manageable. Participants will include state government officials and representatives from universities, technology associations, business groups, and labor and community organizations.

Rep. Travis Couture (R) sponsored the companion bill in the House. The bill passed in both chambers by wide margins and with bipartisan support.

Similar state AI task forces have been established in Alabama, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.

Preliminary recommendations and updates are due on Dec. 31, 2024, and Dec. 1, 2025. The task force’s final report and recommendations are due to the Governor and Legislature by July 1, 2026.

More resources:

·       SB 5838 history and language

·       AG Ferguson’s statement on the bill’s passage

·       GeekWire: Can a 42-member AI task force get anything done?

·       Crosscut: AI task force will advise Legislature on the emerging tech