Wedoany.com Report on Mar 16th, The U.S. Senate has recently officially eased restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence tools. Senate aides are now officially permitted to use mainstream AI chatbots such as Google Gemini, OpenAI's ChatGPT, and Microsoft Copilot in their daily work. This move marks a substantive step for the U.S. legislative body in embracing generative AI technology.
According to an internal memo obtained by The New York Times, the approved AI tools can be used for routine Senate business, including drafting and editing documents, summarizing information, preparing talking points, and compiling briefing materials. The memo explicitly mentions that aides can use tools like Copilot to assist with research and analysis, thereby improving daily office efficiency.
It is noteworthy that the list of approved AI tools does not include Anthropic's Claude chatbot, even though this model is also widely used globally. According to a report released last year by the nonprofit POPVOX Foundation, the U.S. House of Representatives previously allowed aides to use ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Claude but imposed strict limitations on high-risk uses such as handling sensitive data. Whether the Senate's scope of permission will be expanded later remains to be seen.
Regarding intelligence work related to national security, the policy on AI tool usage remains cautious. Spokespersons from both the Democratic and Republican parties on the Senate Intelligence Committee have not yet responded to The New York Times' inquiry about the use policy of AI chatbots in the committee's work, suggesting that the introduction of AI in core sensitive departments still requires more prudent evaluation.
Although this is the first time the Senate has officially and explicitly approved the use of such tools in an official document, in reality, Capitol Hill staff may have already been using AI informally to complete tasks. A survey by Business Insider last year indicated that dozens of members of Congress had authorized their staff to use AI tools for non-classified work. Democratic Senators Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts both expressed support for this. Warren stated bluntly: "I have no objection to my staff using ChatGPT as one of their tools."
Researchers point out that the informal use of chatbots by government staff is not uncommon, reflecting the practical value of AI tools in improving work efficiency. In many white-collar industries, especially in IT and professional services, the use of AI applications not formally authorized by corporate IT departments has become quite widespread. The Senate's formal approval can be seen as an institutionalized response to this real-world demand.
