For Immediate Release
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Contact
Sarah Bascom, sarah@bascomllc.com
Kristen Grissom, kgrissom@bascomllc.com
Tallahassee, Fla.—Today, the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) announced the launch of the AIF Coalition for the Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business. The Coalition will bring business sectors together to: 1) develop guidelines for accountable and innovative AI policies and 2) educate and engage with policymakers to ensure a responsible regulatory structure.
“Recently, the AIF Foundation held a roundtable discussion on AI during our Lunch & Learn Series, where we heard from a multitude of companies that recognized its critical importance to their business and asked AIF to lead the way on this issue,” said AIF President & CEO Brewster Bevis. “With the rapid expansion of AI and the enormous impact it will have on all sectors of the business community, AIF felt it necessary to establish this Coalition to bring together our key members and partners to engage on this important issue. This will put the business community at the forefront of addressing this evolving technology, developing the strategies and collaborating with legislators to ensure Florida’s employers have a voice as AI is defined and policies are crafted. By leading on this issue, the business community can help ensure well-informed decisions are made by policymakers to allow for continued advancement while mitigating possible risks.”
The Coalition will be comprised of AIF members, non-members and AIF partner organizations. Participants will include a mix of technology companies, such as Google and Meta, among others, as well as Florida businesses, such as Florida Blue, JM Family, HCA, TECO, Disney and more (current list can be found at aif.com/ai ). Partner organizations that will be part of the coalition include the Florida Council of 100, James Madison Institute, Florida Retail Federation, Florida Insurance Council, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association and the Florida Ag Coalition. This blend will allow for a full and complete effort as it relates to Florida’s businesses and emerging AI issues.
The Coalition will work to educate key legislative leaders on how AI is currently being implemented in the business community, the concerns of employers and AI’s future applications. This will include holding roundtable events to bring elected officials and business leaders together to discuss the issue and its future impact. The Coalition will also focus on developing and passing a broadly agreed-upon definition of AI to be used as a launching point for policy development moving forward.
“Artificial intelligence and its impact on Florida’s employers is a here-and-now issue, not something that is coming later,” said AIF Vice-President of Governmental Affairs Adam Basford. “There are bills being debated in the legislature this session that deal with AI and how it may be regulated to standard business practices.”
Known as “The Voice of Florida Business” in the Sunshine State, Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) has represented the principles of prosperity and free enterprise before the three branches of state government since 1920. A voluntary association of diversified businesses, AIF was created to foster an economic climate in Florida conducive to the growth, development, and welfare of industry and business and the people of the state.
For more information on AIF, please visit AIF.com and follow @VoiceofFLBiz.
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