HaoTech
In an unprecedented move, a bill drafted by ChatGPT was officially passed in Brazil, marking a significant milestone in the application of AI in legislative processes. This development prompts a crucial question: Is AI’s role in drafting laws a mere extension of technology, or does it herald a transformative shift in how we govern?
In a landmark event in Porto Alegre, Brazil, legislation entirely written by Artificial Intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, has been successfully passed. This marks a first not only for Brazil but globally.
The creation of this bill by ChatGPT took mere minutes, and it passed unanimously among the 36 city council members, who were initially unaware that AI had a hand in its creation. This marks a small but potentially transformative step into a new legislative era.
This new era beckons a future where AI can rapidly produce legislation, possibly questioning the traditional roles of human legislators.
The Legislation Created in Seconds
In October 2023, Councilman Ramiro Rosário from Porto Alegre, a city of 1.3 million, tackled an issue concerning residents being unfairly charged for stolen water meters. Instead of the usual lengthy discussions with legal experts and other council members, Rosário turned to an advanced language model for help.
He asked the AI to draft a law that would prevent the Municipal Water and Sewage Department from charging property owners for the replacement of stolen water meters.
In just 15 seconds, ChatGPT drafted an eight-section bill that not only addressed the issue but also added provisions like a 30-day replacement window for the city and exemptions from water charges if the deadline was missed.
The bill was unanimously approved by the council, but the revelation that an AI wrote it stirred a mix of fascination and concern among the members and the public.
The Implications and Risks of AI-Written Laws
While this instance in Brazil is pioneering, it isn’t the first time AI has been used to draft legislation. Earlier, Senator Barry Finegold from Massachusetts used ChatGPT to draft a bill on AI regulation. Unlike in Brazil, this effort was transparent from the start.
The integration of AI in lawmaking is poised to speed up legislative processes, but it also necessitates its own set of regulations to ensure transparency and accountability.
Though Rosário initially kept the AI’s involvement a secret to spark debate, the need for clear disclosure about AI’s role in such critical functions is evident.
AI and Human Oversight in Lawmaking
Current AI models, including generative ones like ChatGPT, can still produce errors or biased outputs, which is concerning in the context of lawmaking. These models are often seen as “black boxes” with opaque decision-making processes, complicating risk assessments and security measures.
The call for Explainable AI is growing louder, aiming to make AI decision-making processes more transparent and understandable, especially in sensitive areas like legislation.
Final Thoughts
The entry of AI into the domain of drafting laws is undeniably an extension of its capabilities in generating complex texts. However, the broader implications of such applications, particularly the potential influence of a few dominant tech companies over the legislative process, warrant serious discussion and regulation.
As we stand on the brink of this new era, it becomes imperative to establish frameworks that ensure AI-assisted lawmaking is transparent, equitable, and free from undue biases. This is not just about embracing technological advancement but also about safeguarding the foundational principles of governance.
