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.

The Pentagon is preparing to eliminate between 50 and 60-thousand civilian jobs over the next few months. On Tuesday, a senior defense official said the job cuts will hopefully happen via voluntary resignations and by not replacing workers who leave. The Pentagon will also begin firing probationary employees.        Russia is calling for an end to military aid to Ukraine as a "key condition for avoiding an escalation of the war." The Kremlin made the demands Tuesday after Russian leader Vladimir Putin spoke with President Trump on the phone about a proposed ceasefire.        Two NASA astronauts have finally returned to Earth after a nine-month stay on the International Space Station. Suni [[ Sunny ]] Williams and Butch Wilmore had to stay far longer than planned aboard the ISS after issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. They returned home in a SpaceX capsule Tuesday afternoon, splashing down off the coast of Florida.        Officials in Louisiana say an inmate has been executed using nitrogen gas. Jessie Hoffman was pronounced dead shortly before 7 p.m. local time Tuesday. It's the first time in state history an inmate has been executed by nitrogen gas and just the fifth time in the U.S.        Some court documents related to Prince Harry have been released after a conservative group raised questions over the British royal's immigration records. Harry currently lives in California with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children. On Tuesday, a number of documents were released by order of a federal judge after the conservative Heritage Foundation claimed he may have concealed past drug use that would have disqualified him for a U.S. visa. The allegations are reportedly based on Prince Harry's memoir "Spare," where he wrote about having tried cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms and marijuana.        The Dodgers and Cubs are set to wrap up their season-opening two-game series in Japan. Los Angeles will face Chicago early this morning to conclude the MLB World Tour in Tokyo. L.A. defeated Chicago 4-1 in the league's season opener on Tuesday.       

Old News Archives