AI in the Everyday: Current Applications and Future Frontiers in Communications and Technology
House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
2025-06-04
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Source: Congress.gov
Summary
This subcommittee hearing addresses how artificial intelligence is transforming the communications and technology sectors, examining both the benefits and risks of AI deployment. Key topics include the critical need for robust broadband infrastructure, energy demands of AI data centers, and the importance of maintaining U.S. leadership in global AI innovation. Witnesses from industry leaders such as Encompass, NVIDIA, and DeepSig detail current AI applications in network efficiency, cybersecurity, and emergency services, while raising concerns about data privacy, digital divides, and foreign competition. The hearing also highlights policy questions related to state-level AI regulations, the proposed 10-year moratorium on state AI enforcement, and the role of public-private partnerships in advancing AI technology. Participants emphasize that a national framework is essential to balance innovation with consumer protection, ensuring equitable access to AI and secure, resilient networks for all Americans.
Participants
Transcript
Subcommittee will come to order. The chair recognizes himself for an opening statement. Good morning, and welcome to today's subcommittee hearing on examining artificial intelligence and how it is being used in communications technology industries. AI is top of mind right now, not just in this country, but all over the globe. It's been used in different industries for many years, but recent advancements in large language models, machine learning, and generative AI have pushed this technology into the spotlight. capturing public attention, and forever transforming how we live and how we work. The applications for this new technology are widespread, and we're continuing to find new ways that AI can be used to benefit Americans' lives. Whether you know it or not, almost everyone uses AI in our daily lives, like when you use chat GPT to create a shopping list or ask Siri for directions, or even more specifically, When you called the ride share to get here this morning, it uses AI to find the fastest route based on traffic patterns. Your cell phone provider uses AI to reduce harmful spectrum interference on your phone, ensuring there's no lapse in service. The entertainment industry uses AI to predict what types of content viewers may enjoy and drives decisions on when that content should be produced. It's being used to develop content and enhance the editing process. Our military uses AI to enhance efficiency with encrypted communications and perfect precision with drones like we've seen in the war in Ukraine. Even the National Football League uses AI to create the perfect schedule to limit unnecessary travel for players, create an even playing field for teams, and maximize fan accessibility for the biggest games. As demand for AI grows, we must consider what physical infrastructure will be required to continue advanced AI development. Storage capacity and energy consumption demands at data centers are expected to skyrocket by 2030 due to increased AI use.
As data capacity increases, we will need robust fiber optics and wireless connectivity to ensure powerful new AI systems can reach their fullest potential and enable every industry to grow. But the United States is not the only country developing advanced AI. China recently released its DeepSeq AI model, which showed their advancements. Our adversaries will stop at nothing to undermine our leadership and technological advancement and utilize AI to threaten our very way of life. We must continue to innovate and develop to prevent that from happening. Competition in AI is a global issue, and it is an imperative that the United States maintains its leadership. To do this, our country and Congress must encourage an environment where AI companies can innovate, compete, and excel on the global stage. Just like the light regulatory touch that gave rise to the internet, and some of the most successful and cutting-edge companies on the planet, AI must be given the same opportunity to ensure American companies set the standard for the rest of the world. This is an exciting time and an opportunity to talk about these issues. Navigating these new and evolving technologies will not be without its challenges, but it's our job to meet them head-on. Innovation has provided untold benefits to Americans and to our economy. Today, we will hear from our witnesses about how artificial intelligence is being used across the communications and technology industries, as well as what is required for the United States to maintain its leadership in developing AI models. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses today about these issues and how Congress can stand ready as a partner. I now recognize the ranking member, the gentlelady from California, for her opening statement. Ms.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I'm glad we're holding this hearing today as connectivity and artificial intelligence go hand in hand. Already, AI is a part of our everyday lives, from improving GPS driving directions to extending the battery life of our cell phones and preventing network outages. As the AI evolves, it will transform how we communicate, improve network resiliency, defending against cyber attacks, and supercharging connectivity for consumers and businesses. To realize AI full potential and ensure AI benefits us all, and not just a few, we must act with urgency to close the digital divide by investing in the infrastructure and skilled workforce that underpins AI success. Unfortunately, the Trump administration would rather pay lip service to American AI leadership than act. The reality is that they are undermining this exact goal by derailing our AI supply chain with tariffs gutting our AI talent pipeline by attacking universities and slashing research dollars and weakening our AI infrastructure by freezing federal broadcasting funding. Universal connectivity is the building block for universal AI access. This includes the fiber networks that provide reliable, scalable, and high-speed connections for AI applications to process large amounts of data. To achieve this, we must act quickly and fully carry out our federal broadband programs to connect the tens of millions of Americans who still lack access to high-speed internet. And that's why I'm alarmed that the President continues to sabotage the $42 billion Broadband Equity Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program. BEAD is a once-in-a-generation investment from Congress to expand affordable broadband. States are at the one-yard line, ready to reach the end zone and get shovels in the ground. But for almost six months, the Trump administration has put a bead on ice, blocking our states from connecting more Americans, all while threatening to waste even more time with rule changes that would undo the work our states have already accomplished.
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