SouthernWorldwide.com – As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in the U.S. economy, Senator Mark Warner is advocating for regulations on AI agents, which are autonomous bots capable of performing tasks for consumers such as booking travel and online shopping.
The Virginia Democrat is backing a pioneering draft bill, titled the Artificial Intelligence Access, Gatekeeper Exchange and Nondiscriminatory Transfer, or AI Agent, Act. This legislation proposes privacy and security measures intended to safeguard consumers and businesses from the potential risks associated with AI usage.
“As agentic AI transforms how Americans interact with technology, consumers deserve a real choice in the marketplace – and AI agents must be accountable to the people they serve,” Warner stated on Monday. He emphasized that this discussion draft is a significant step towards establishing a clear federal framework to foster innovation, protect consumers, and maintain the United States’ leadership in emerging technologies.
The AI Agent Act aims to define the rights and responsibilities of AI agents that access large online platforms. It also seeks to ensure that these agents operate in the best interest of the user. Furthermore, the bill proposes the creation of a Federal Trade Commission registry for trusted AI agents, thereby preventing consumers from entrusting their personal information to bots that could compromise its security.
“An AI agent that has access to a user’s most sensitive data and access rights – including email, e-commerce accounts and credit cards – must behave in fiduciary-like manner to protect users,” according to a summary of the proposal.
The proposed legislation would also mandate that AI agents protect user privacy and any data they collect. They must act “in a user’s best interest” and protect businesses from exploitation by unauthorized AI agents.
Warner is releasing this draft bill to gather feedback from stakeholders and the public before its formal introduction, he indicated.
The growing adoption of AI-powered shopping assistants is projected to contribute significantly to U.S. e-commerce sales, potentially reaching up to $385 billion by 2030, according to Morgan Stanley.
