SC lawmakers, tech experts discuss AI oversight at Ascend SC forum

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — South Carolina leaders and experts from across the country met in the Lowcountry to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.

The South Carolina Emerging Tech Association hosted the Ascend SC forum, bringing together state lawmakers and technology experts to discuss the impact of advanced technology on the state’s economy and energy.

State Rep. Greg Ford, R-Dorchester County, District 98, attended the forum to speak with experts as he drafts legislation.

“I wanted to be in the room with the actual experts that deal with this on a day-to-day basis to hear firsthand as we’re making the legislation,” Ford said.

The main purpose of the forum centered on taking the power away from AI and technology and humans being in control of it.

Scott Stornetta, Ph.D., CEO of ShareMark Digital and an inventor of blockchain technology, said the forum was meant to address controversies surrounding artificial intelligence.

“We have another wave of technology innovation that concerns us and threatens to change the way we live, between data centers and AI and concerns about job loss and the environment, all a host of issues, but the message is still the same,” Stornetta said. “If we really understand these technologies, then we can appropriately use them to advance a human agenda rather than feel the need to just constantly be on the defensive.”

SCETA President Dennis Fassuliotis said the association is focused on privacy and data security, energy and environmental impacts, and education and transparency. The all-day event included panels, speakers and presentations meant to help the state’s economy, legislature and environment.

As controversies over flock cameras and data centers continue to rise, Fassuliotis said knowledge is power when the growth of technology cannot be controlled.

“There are very real concerns out there. There’s no question about it, but if we understand the technology works for us, not the other way around, that’s really what the focus is. We really try in all of the policy that we’re developing, we use that as the basic framework,” Fassuliotis said.

Fassuliotis also said the goal is for individuals to take back control of their data.

“Being able to take that data back and take control of that data, and really creating the guardrails around all that,” Fassuliotis said.

He said technology growth is inevitable, and with Flock cameras and data centers increasing, adapting, learning, and protecting data is important.

Ford said lawmakers are working on legislation to limit what data the government can collect.

“We want to make sure we have the biggest, largest encompassing bill as we can, but very narrowed to limit what the government can actually collect on us because that’s the biggest outcry right now is the data. Data security,” Ford said.

Gov. Henry McMaster signed Senate Bill 163 in May, protecting digital rights. State leaders said they are working to do more in the digital age.

After the forum, local lawmakers said they are looking at ways to bring what they learned to their constituents and to the state capital.