Advances in artificial intelligence are affecting just about every part of the economy, and Texas business leaders want the Lone Star State to be a hub for innovation, 1200 WOAI reports
"AI is important to the state's economy and really to the economic security of the United States," Glenn Hamer, who heads the Texas Association of Business, says.
Texas, like the federal government, has a new focus on government efficiency. Hamer tells 1200 WOAI's Michael Board that the technology could automate manual processes that are currently time consuming. That would be especially helpful, he says, to small businesses who often get bogged down in bureaucracy.
A 2022 report from the Texas Department of Information Resources found that one-third of all state agencies are already using AI to address staffing shortages.
But, along with the good comes worries about misuse of AI.
Regulating the technology will be a key issue when state lawmakers get back to work in January. Interim sessions, this summer, have already touched on guardrails that could be slapped on AI research. Lawmakers debated biased decision-making and the spread of misinformation at a hearing in August.
Country music star Josh Abbott told the committee that advances in Artificial Intelligence are threatening his industry
"My voice, my image and my name set me apart. It's literally my brand. And when others use an artist's voice without consent it becomes personal."
Texas is not the only state that's grappling with AI. In California, there is a clash between tech companies and creative workers.
Zach Whiting, with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, says the upcoming session will give Texas the opportunity to lead the way, nationally, on AI policy
"I do think that, come the end of the session, Texas will have the best AI bill passed into law and hopefully other states will see that."
The challenge for lawmakers, though, will be finding a way to strike a balance. Hamer says the guardrails need to be loose enough to encourage research while, at the same time, being tight enough to protect civil rights.
"If we can get our AI policy framework right, it will keep Texas on top for many years to come."