U.S. Congress expands use of AI tools for legislative work

Members of the United States Congress are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence tools to perform legislative and administrative duties. According to reports, staffers and legislators are using chatbots such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Claude to draft speeches, news releases, congressional hearing questions, and bill amendments.

Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville noted that he uses ChatGPT to research topics like Medicare and Medicaid, describing the technology as an expert that can put users on the right path despite potential inaccuracies. Similarly, Representative Mike Flood has used chatbots to research private equity trends for housing legislation, and Senator Elizabeth Warren has used ChatGPT for demographic research.

The widespread adoption of these tools has raised concerns regarding oversight and data privacy. While the House has purchased thousands of Copilot licenses, congressional staffers have expressed uncertainty regarding the rules governing AI use. Specific concerns include the potential for inputting sensitive constituent data into AI models and the use of AI to manage communications budgets and reporter databases.