Warren accuses AI firms of trying to curb oversight in trade accord

In a letter dated Wednesday, Warren stated that these companies are advocating for updates to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that would allow them to conceal their AI algorithms and source code from regulatory scrutiny. She argued that any revised agreement should eliminate provisions that permit "Big Tech companies to escape regulatory scrutiny," emphasizing the critical need for governments to possess the tools necessary to protect citizens from potential AI harms.

This push for stricter oversight comes amid a growing chorus of lawmakers calling for more robust AI regulation, spurred by recent incidents highlighting AI's potential risks. These include a lawsuit against OpenAI after its chatbot allegedly provided dangerous health advice, and an incident where an autonomous AI agent reportedly triggered a hack compromising the infrastructure of AI startup Hugging Face. Republican Congressman Jay Obernolte noted that such incidents "underscores the critical need for clear, practical rules for advanced AI systems."

Industry trade groups have previously urged the USTR to pursue looser digital trade rules. In October, the Computer and Communications Industry Association commented on "threats to the cross-border supply of AI services," while the Telecommunications Industry Association stated the importance of pushing back against mandates for source code disclosure.