The Pennsylvania House passed a bill on Wednesday that would require consumers to be notified when content has been generated by artificial intelligence. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Chris Pielli, aims to protect consumers by ensuring transparency around the use of AI. The legislation would amend the state's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law to mandate clear disclosure when AI has been used to create written text, images, audio, or video.

The bill, which passed by a vote of 146-54, received support from all Democrats and divided Republicans. One key provision of the bill would prevent defendants from arguing that child sexual abuse material created by AI is not illegal under criminal laws. This measure is part of a larger trend across U.S. legislatures to regulate the use of AI and ensure public awareness of its presence in various aspects of society.

TechNet, a trade group representing tech companies like Meta and Google, expressed a desire to work with lawmakers on refining the bill's definition of AI to reduce uncertainty around its impact. Meanwhile, the BSA The Software Alliance highlighted the numerous AI-related bills pending in state legislatures, covering issues such as bias, discrimination, and deepfakes.

The bill faces opposition from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, which argues that it could expose businesses to civil litigation and lacks specificity in targeting deceptive content. However, supporters believe that the disclosure requirements are necessary to protect consumers and promote transparency in the use of AI technologies.