US Lawmakers Increasingly Adopt AI Tools

US lawmakers are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence into their workflows, reversing previous stances of skepticism and resistance. Key figures, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have shifted from refusing to use the technology to utilizing it for research tasks. While some legislators embrace tools like ChatGPT and Grok, others remain hesitant due to time constraints or ethical concerns. The adoption landscape is mixed, ranging from enthusiastic use to frustrating technical experiences and total avoidance.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has significantly altered her view on artificial intelligence. As recently as June, Warren resisted using AI due to skepticism regarding its accuracy. However, she recently confirmed that her stance has changed. She now utilizes ChatGPT for basic research, finding it 'really valuable' for tasks such as retrieving population data for Mississippi. Warren noted that she began using the tool after observing her daughter and uses it to 'start to approach a problem' rather than relying on it exclusively. Despite finding value, she still encounters occasional hallucinations in the output.

Other legislators who were previously critical are also exploring the technology. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, a major critic of the AI industry, decided to test the software after conducting hearings on it. He asked a historical question regarding Puritans in the 1630s and reported that ChatGPT returned 'a lot of good information.' Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut offered a more conflicted perspective, admitting he uses the technology despite believing it has the potential to 'destroy us.'

Personal AI adoption remains inconsistent among top government officials. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump does not appear to use the technology himself, noting she has never witnessed it. In contrast, Vice President JD Vance has publicly embraced AI, identifying himself as a 'Grok guy' in a November interview. Vance praised the Elon Musk-owned chatbot, calling it the 'best' and noting it is the 'least woke.'

House Speaker Mike Johnson remains on the sidelines, citing a lack of 'luxury of time.' Johnson explained that AI became popular during his tenure as Speaker, leaving him little opportunity to engage with the technology. He stated, 'I just haven't gotten into it yet.'

Lawmakers have reported varied experiences with different AI platforms. Representative Jared Huffman of California described a frustrating interaction with Microsoft Copilot. While attempting to research details about a criminal case, the AI insisted that the victim was still alive and argued that the assassination was a conspiracy theory, which Huffman described as 'freaking weird.' Conversely, Representative Don Beyer of Virginia prefers Anthropic's Claude. His preference stems from the company's focus on safety and ethics, specifically citing their creation of a 'Constitution on the ethical use' of AI. Beyer views the company as more 'enlightened' compared to competitors.