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Kentucky’s Artificial Intelligence Taskforce discusses growing need for policy

Samantha Morrill

As lawmakers cover important ground before the 2025 Regular Session, Kentucky’s attorney general has asked state legislators to consider crafting regulations to prevent abuse by artificial intelligence.

One concern at the forefront of many policy recommendations is the use of AI to develop Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Officials agreed these AI-produced materials hold the same weight and capacity for harm as real CSAM photography.

Kentucky House Republican Josh Bray is the co-chair of the state’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force. He said as the scope of AI expands, it’s only a matter of time before the legislature will need to consider broad policies to cover these ‘what-if’ scenarios.

“As a task force, you know, we’re charged with making recommendations. The last thing we want to happen is you all don’t have a tool to prosecute a crime, or we have a thousand bills filed for every little crime, to make sure something needs to be changed,” said Bray.

Officials in various positions spoke about the nuanced uses of AI. Logistics representatives with Amazon said AI has helped operations expand smoothly and safely throughout the state. In social work, the growing technology can help operations but has raised many concerns, especially for adolescent populations.

Hank Cecil is the chair of the Kentucky Board of Social Work. He said one issue is the use of ‘character AI’ chatbots, which use artificial intelligence to simulate talking to a real person. These chat-bots can play any role the user requests, including mental health professionals.

“There’s one on there called therapist, and there’s one on there called psychologist. But I want that person to identify themself. If they’re going to give out advice like they do, I want them to be licensed and identify themselves, but they won’t. These AI’s won’t,” said Cecil.

Public attention has landed on these chat-bots after a Florida teenager committed suicide after their interactions with a fictional character AI.

Lawmakers will be able to propose legislation when Regular Session convenes on January 7, 2025.