Ripon Forum


Vol. 57, No. 3

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In this edition

With each new week seeming to bring a new advancement in artificial intelligence, the latest edition of The Ripon Forum examines the role of Congress in regulating AI and how our lives and our world may be reshaped and impacted in the years ahead.

The Role of Congress in Regulating Artificial Intelligence

As policymakers begin to tackle the issue of AI, it is vital that we maintain the agility of our technology and strike a careful balance between protecting consumers and protecting innovation.

How AI is Reshaping the Battlefield

Data, advanced algorithms, computing power – these are the weapons that will determine the fight for information.

AI and the Future of Schooling

Advances in artificial technology create new opportunities to tackle persistent challenges in schooling. But we must be clear-eyed about the technology and how it is used.

How AI is Reshaping Transportation

AI has emerged as a transformative force in transportation, one that will affect both how we use transportation – the demand side – and how we supply transportation facilities and services.

How AI can Reshape Lawmaking in the U.S. Congress

The integration of AI into the lawmaking process has the potential to significantly reshape the way laws are created and implemented — just ask ChatGPT.

Memo to Washington: AI Needs Your Full Attention … Now!

The development and deployment of this one specific type of AI technology — large generative models such as GPT4 — is outpacing our ability to understand their strengths and limitations.

Bring Back Conference Committees

Like so many aspects of the legislative process, the Conference Committee has fallen victim to the dramatic shift of congressional power to party leadership.

Should America Continue to Accept Asylum Seekers? Yes.

America has always been a land of refuge and will continue to be so. That is the easy part of any debate about refugee and asylum issues.

Should America Continue to Accept Asylum Seekers? No.

Today, the U.S. has needlessly made the administration of providing refugee protection confusing by creating two separate paths and processes: An alien overseas applies for refugee protection, while an alien at our border or inside the U.S. applies for asylum.

Ripon Profile of María Elvira Salazar

The Representative of Florida’s 27th Congressional District discusses her time in Congress and her legislative priorities.

Ripon Profile of María Elvira Salazar

Name & occupation: María Elvira Salazar; Journalist, mother, and congresswoman representing Florida’s 27th District.

Previous jobs held: Five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, serving the Spanish-speaking audience of the United States and Latin America on Telemundo, Univision, AmericaTevé, MegaTV, and CNN en Español.

How has your career in journalism shaped your service on Capitol Hill? My constituents include many of the people I served in my 35 years as a member of the Spanish-language press. As a congresswoman, I approach my work the same way I did as a journalist: What are both sides of the story? What am I not seeing that I need to take into consideration? When I vote on the issues directly affecting my constituents, I make sure to understand the issues as fully as possible to make the most informed decision. This emphasis on attention to detail and nuance is what was required of me as a journalist, and this is what I believe makes a good public servant.

Looking back on your time as a journalist, what was the toughest interview you ever conducted? The toughest interview I have ever given was the one I did with Fidel Castro. Thirty years ago, interviewing one of Latin America’s most brutal dictators and the architect of the misery that caused millions of Cubans to live in exile, was impossible. As a Cuban-American, I felt it was my duty to ask Castro the hard questions. The legacy of pain and suffering that the dictator left behind had to be answered for, and the opportunity to get some of those answers had to be taken. His answers, while unsatisfactory, were important to showcase to the world: His ideas are destructive, and my viewers got to see them from the mouth of the dictator himself.

If you could have Congress solve one problem affecting Florida, what would it be? Congress must come together to solve the cost-of-living crisis that my constituents face in South Florida. Inflation must be put to an end. Housing policy must be updated to meet the needs of our rapidly growing real estate market. We need an immigration policy that meets the needs of our labor and agricultural markets, both of which are suffering from severe shortages and raising prices on American families. I have introduced legislation that would address all these concerns – now I need Congress to exert the political will to solve them!

Finally, what advice do you have for young people who would like to start a career in public life today? There is a time for everything. The first time I ran in 2018, I have to admit, I didn’t fully understand the commitment required of someone to run for Congress. Learning that lesson was valuable, because it taught me to be sharper, strategize better, and listen more. You are not always going to make it on the first try, or maybe even the second or third. Don’t let that discourage you: Remember, it’s through trial by fire that the most radiant of gold is made. If you truly believe in the mission of advancing the common good of your community as a public servant, make your case to your people. If you believe in yourself and work hard enough for it, they will believe in you too.