Some Republican lawmakers are opposing plans to regulate AI in healthcare, specifically a Department of Health and Human Services proposal to establish assurance labs that would evaluate AI tools, Politico reported Dec. 2.
These labs, part of a framework from the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), are designed to assess AI technologies using agreed-upon standards.
Reps. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, argue that government-run labs could create conflicts of interest and erode public trust in government and tech companies. They expressed their concerns in a letter to HHS, asking the agency to reconsider its support for CHAI's plans.
CHAI's proposal outlines a system where labs follow international testing standards and align with HHS guidelines for transparency and safety in AI. While CHAI asserts that these labs would not be part of government regulation, critics are wary of the overlap between government and private sector influence.
CHAI includes members such as Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, Microsoft and Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins.
Deregulation of AI is a priority for Republicans, and President-elect Donald Trump and his administration are expected to undo President Joe Biden's policies promoting coordinated AI oversight.
Both HHS and CHAI declined to comment to Politico on the issue.