OLYMPIA, WA – (KGMI.com) Leaders in Olympia say it’s time for the state to start thinking about artificial intelligence.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson and two lawmakers from each party are proposing legislation to create an AI taskforce.

They envision a panel made up of industry representatives, civil liberty groups, subject matter experts and other stakeholders to discuss potential benefits and risks of the technology.

The taskforce would recommend guiding priciples for AI, especially generative AI which creates content like images, audio and text.

Areas of concern would be negative uses of the technology that could affect safety or fundamental rights, but also protecting innovation of the technology and promoting education about it.

Ferguson says Washington should embrace AI in a thoughtful way as part of its role as a state on the cutting edge of tech development.