An aging Congress' dilemma: Can they regulate AI without using it?

Members of Congress and governors are under increasing pressure to regulate AI, but more than two dozen of them who spoke with Axios said they don't use the technology or have rarely done so.Why it matters: That striking admission — particularly among older, influential lawmakers — comes amid calls for an AI slowdown and warnings within the industry that it could end humanity if left unchecked.Critics argue that it's impossible for politicians to grasp how rapidly the technology is changing — and the threats or scientific breakthroughs it might unleash — if they don't use it or even dismiss it.One House Democrat called it "f*cking absurd," arguing, "Anyone who's overseeing this has to be someone who's a regular user.""That's a real problem," said Rob Flaherty, a 35-year-old Democratic digital strategist who co-founded a group to push his party to move faster in confronting AI. "Understanding what it can do is essential to figuring out what we ought to do about it.""As we begin to legislate on issues related to AI, it helps to have experience using it," said Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who's 47.Zoom in: Several lawmakers, including those steeped in seniority and in charge of key committees, told Axios they simply haven't tried AI."Heavens no," said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), 75, chair of the Armed Services Committee, when asked if he uses AI."Personally? I don't think I've ever used it," said Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), 74, the ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee."No," Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i), 78, said when asked if she uses AI, but that "doesn't mean I won't." She added, "I don't think we in Congress have gotten quite our handle on what we should do and how much AI we should be regulating.""I do not personally use it," said Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), 83, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair.On a personal level, "no," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), 83. The House Appropriations Committee ranking member added that she needs a "primer on AI, and now with the scare that we have out there, it's much more important to be engaged."A GOP senator, speaking anonymously to offer candid remarks about their colleagues, told Axios that the number who use AI is "not very high."That's helped lead to a knee-jerk negative reaction toward AI among several lawmakers, the senator added, as polls show growing numbers of voters turning against it.Some elected officials said they don't utilize AI much personally, though some on their teams employ the technology.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), who's 48, said he uses AI "on the Google, when you can get a little bit of that search summarized for you. But otherwise no. I do not use it in research. We do not use it in our writing."He said that he supports robust regulation and though some in his state government use AI, final decisions must be made by humans.Other politicians were unsure if they've ever used AI — or said they've only done so by accident."I don't think I do," said Sen. S