2024 Congressional Boot Camp: Day 3 Agenda

Stanford HAI staff will lead a discussion reviewing key concepts from the first two days of the boot camp. They will also offer a preview of Day 3 and leave ample time for questions.

The rapid spread of disinformation has challenged societies and deepened mistrust, threatening to erode democratic values. Furthermore, synthetic media from the advent of generative adversarial networks (GANS) has created deceptively realistic images and videos—known as deepfakes—that are indistinguishable from reality. These developments are leading to an information crisis where consumers are becoming less certain of the veracity of the content they encounter. This session will dive into how AI has changed the information economy and how policy can help protect people from fake content.

The risks and threats stemming from global climate change are becoming a growing issue for policymakers. At the same time, the rapid advancements of AI have presented possible opportunities to use this technology to help tackle our greatest climate challenges, from achieving net-zero emissions to preparing for extreme weather events. Conversely, AI continues to increasingly rely on compute power, which is an energy-intensive resource and contributes to the emission of CO2. As a result, there is mounting concern around AI’s environmental impact, drawing attention to the cost-benefit analysis of AI advancements. This session will unpack how AI can be used to help confront climate change while also better understanding AI’s own ripple effects in the environment.

15-minute break 

In this 3-hour National Security Council simulation, staffers will respond to a crisis situation in the Taiwan Strait involving the potential deployment of AI for national security purposes.

Working lunch 

Continuation of simulation

AI is introducing new opportunities to strengthen U.S. intelligence and national security capabilities. However, it is crucial for policymakers to grasp the inner workings of both the U.S. national security framework and AI technologies to leverage these advancements effectively. Modern espionage, for example, is more pervasive yet less understood than ever, leading to misinformation and policy missteps. This session will separate fact from fiction as panelists discuss the past, present, and future of American espionage and how AI is creating an adapt-or-fail moment for international security and U.S. intelligence.

15-minute transition break

This session offers a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the latest advancements in robotics research and development. Participants will learn the history of automation, explore innovative applications of robotics in various fields, from healthcare to autonomous systems, engage demonstrations, and understand their potential impact on society.

15-minute transition break

Foundation models are at the center of the global discourse on AI: the emerging technological paradigm has a concrete and growing impact on the economy, policy, and society. As governments around the world explore governance initiatives regarding the ethical and responsible deployment of foundation models, this session analyzes the evolving landscape of regulations, guidelines, and best practices and provides insights into key considerations for effective governance, including transparency, copyrights, and privacy.