Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

Sen. Gu to chair Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies

 

STATE HOUSE — Sen. Victoria Gu will chair the newly created Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies for the 2024-2025 legislative session.

A Westerly resident, Senator Gu (D-Dist. 38, Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown) earned a degree in Computer Science from Harvard University and spent seven years as a software engineer and data analyst.

“I am humbled and honored to lead the Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies and I want to thank President Ruggerio for his confidence,” said Senator Gu. “The rapid expansion of AI and other technologies across society has left lawmakers across the nation scrambling to design the legal and regulatory frameworks necessary to allow our residents to benefit from these powerful new tools while protecting them from their potential dangers. The last few weeks have also underscored the importance of keeping pace with rapid technological changes and cybersecurity risks that impact Rhode Islanders. The timely creation of this committee shows that Rhode Island legislators understand the importance of this moment. I look forward to the important work that awaits us.”

The Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies will consider legislation and matters relating to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and their societal, ethical and policy implications.

Senator Gu has served in the Senate since 2023, when she and Senator Linda Ujifusa were the first Asian-Americans elected to the General Assembly in Rhode Island history. In addition to chairing this committee, she will continue to serve on the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture and the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government.

President Trump is expressing condolences after recent flooding in central Texas. Trump got a close-up look at devastation in Kerrville today. During a roundtable discussion with local officials and first responders, Trump said he was there to express the anguish of the entire nation. Over 120 people are dead and many remain missing.        A farm worker is dead after an immigration raid at a Southern California cannabis farm Thursday. The United Farm Workers union announced the man's death on social media. The man's family says he fell 30 feet off a building, apparently trying to run from the ICE agents who were chasing him. The union says several other workers were critically injured during the raid in Ventura County.        President Trump is setting a 35-percent tariff on Canada. In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said that starting August 1st, a 35-percent tariff on Canadian products sent into the U.S. will be imposed. Trump said it comes as part of a response to "Canada's retaliation" and ongoing trade barriers.        The deputy director of the FBI is considering stepping down. Multiple reports say Dan Bongino has told people he is thinking about resigning after clashing with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Jeffrey Epstein files. Earlier this week, a memo stated there is no evidence that Epstein kept a so-called "client list." Bongino had been outspoken about the Epstein case in the past before he became FBI deputy director.        Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is calling for accountability after filing a claim against the Trump administration. Khalil's 20-million-dollar claim alleges false imprisonment and prosecution. The Trump administration is trying to deport Khalil after he helped organize pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia. He was arrested by ICE agents last March and held for months before being released in June.        Former presidential advisor David Gergen has passed away at age 83. The New York Times reports he died at a retirement community in Lexington, Massachusetts. Gergen began his White House career in the Nixon administration and also served under Presidents Ford, Reagan and then Bill Clinton. He also worked as a political commentator and was once the editor of U.S. News and World Report.       

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