AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is taking a step toward keeping an eye on AI.
Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2060 into law on Tuesday. The legislation, written by State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and State Sen. Tan Parker, establishes the "Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council."
The goal of the 7-member council is to study and monitor artificial intelligence (AI) technology that is developed, employed or procured by Texas state agencies. Abbott said as AI becomes more prevalent, it's important to ensure the technology is developed in a responsible and ethical way.
"To protect Texans’ privacy and basic civil liberties, I signed legislation creating the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to study and monitor artificial intelligence systems developed or used by our state agencies," Abbott said. "The Council will help cement Texas’ position as a national leader in innovative technology, ensuring our state continues designing and employing the latest and greatest AI technology while prioritizing the security of all Texans."
In recent months, KVUE has reported on how AI is impacting the lives of Central Texans. Some Texas colleges say they have been forced to embrace the AI app ChatGPT while others have addressed plagiarism concerns. The same is true for some Austin-area school districts.
Meanwhile, the Austin Police Department has embraced AI with a new online reporting system, though some in the community say the bot isn't as efficient as it should be. The KVUE Defenders also found that online scammers are using AI to trick people.
HB 2060 goes into effect immediately.