Artificial intelligence is advancing quickly, and one Guam senator wants to make sure it’s used responsibly in government. On Wednesday, Senator Telo Taitague introduced a new bill to create a task force that will study AI and how it should be regulated.

The veteran policymaker says artificial intelligence could help Guam’s government run more efficiently, saving time and money. But she also wants to make sure it doesn’t violate people’s rights. That’s why she introduced Bill 64-38, which would create a task force to look at how AI should be used in government saying, AI offers modern technological tools which can fill critical gaps in our workforce by streamlining operations and increasing productivity.

It was earlier in the month Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense  confirmed they received multiple reports of deepfake videos featuring recognizable individuals claiming "You’ve won a sweepstakes" or attempting to collect personal or financial information. They issued a release on how to stay protected.

Public information officer Jenna Gaminde Blas said that although they have not seen Taitague's bill, they look forward to reading it in its entirety to fully understand its intent.

The 11-member task force would include representatives from the government, private sector, and universities. They’ll study AI’s impact, look at existing laws, and propose new rules to keep AI use ethical and fair. Taitague points out that other states are also struggling to regulate AI. Out of 450 AI-related bills in the US last year, only about 40 became law.

Several members of the community sounded-off in support of the intent of the bill, with neighbor Henry saying, "Well, put it this way: if you look at stocks and bonds, it's all AI. I use ai all the time, don't tell me Guam won't benefit unless the politician just don't know how."

Margaret shared, "I think its good for the world...I think it would bring the island more forward into technology. It be great."

Others wanting to know more about AI before offering an opinion, as Maiomhna said, "I think this is the year for technology, so it's good to learn something new."

Senator Taitague said that Bill 64 makes sure that Guam stays ahead of the curve by creating policies that protect our people while improving current government processes and systems.

If passed, the bill would be one of Guam’s first major efforts to regulate AI in government.