Speaker Mike Johnson has announced plans to meet with top executives from major artificial intelligence companies possibly by the end of this week or early next week. This decision comes at a crucial time when the need for legislative guardrails around the burgeoning AI industry is becoming increasingly pressing.

“It will be soon,” Johnson stated during a press briefing on Monday, suggesting the meetings could occur “either at the end of this week or early next week. But wait and see.”

The urgency of these discussions has been underscored by recent warnings from the CEOs of the nation’s leading AI labs. Dario Amodei of Anthropic, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Elon Musk of xAI, have all expressed concerns over the weekend about the unchecked pace of AI advancements. They cautioned that without proper regulatory mechanisms, the technology could pose risks as dire as human extinction.

Johnson mentioned that he has had discussions with Amodei and Altman regarding AI legislation in the past, though not within the last few days. The Speaker emphasized the complexity of the issue, highlighting the diversity of opinions among AI platform providers about what form the necessary guardrails should take.

“This is a very complex issue that requires a lot of work and bipartisan solutions,” Johnson noted. He added that while there is a push for AI companies to ensure the safety of their products and self-regulate, there might also be a significant role for Congress to play. He stressed the need for a balanced approach to maintain a competitive edge over global rivals, particularly China.

Meanwhile, Johnson also addressed another pressing issue tied to the tech industry. He expressed his support for legislation that would be debated on the floor Tuesday. This legislation aims to make tech companies more accountable for the rising energy costs associated with running large data centers, a concern that has sparked voter backlash as the November elections approach.

With several lawmakers on Capitol Hill already introducing bills aimed at regulating the AI industry, the outcome of Johnson’s impending meetings with AI executives could be pivotal in shaping the future of AI legislation. However, with little consensus on the best path forward and the midterm elections looming, the stakes are high for both the tech industry and legislative leaders.