My name is Arcoiris Ahmu Aguas. As a certified human rights consultant, I became increasingly concerned by a growing gap between the pace of AI deployment and the pace of governance, which led me to author The Advanced AI, Autonomous, Robotic Welfare & Accountability Act (AAARWAA). This comprehensive federal framework was meticulously developed over several months to address the widening governance gaps surrounding increasingly capable AI systems, autonomous agents, and advanced robotics that could cause and are causing harm to humans and systems.  Rapid advancements in these technologies are outpacing existing oversight structures, creating potential risks to both individuals and society as a whole. 

Advanced artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies are becoming integral to our daily lives. Countries around the world are embedding these systems in Consumer Services, Criminal justice/Civil rights departments, Defense, Domestic and care environments, Education, Environment/climate decisions, Government, Healthcare, Immigration/Border, Labor/workers' rights, Transportation, and Voting. They say that the algorithmic decision-making systems will help us significantly, and though it is true that these innovations hold great promise. The pace of innovation has outstripped current regulatory frameworks, leaving dangerous grey areas in governance and accountability. Without adequate oversight, the societal and ethical implications of these technologies could lead to significant harm, including invasions of privacy, loss of employment, and even threats to safety.

The Advanced AI, Autonomous, & Robotic Welfare & Accountability Act (AAARWAA) offers a pathway towards responsible oversight. It aims to establish clear guidelines for the ethical use of AI and robotics, ensuring transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights. The act promotes collaboration among stakeholders, including technologists, policymakers, and civil society organizations, to create a balanced regulatory environment that fosters innovation while safeguarding public welfare.

This transformative legislation is crucial to ensuring that the swift progress in AI and robotics does not overshadow human rights and ethical considerations. But to make this vision a reality, we need legislative support and action. By sponsoring hearings and conducting a thorough review of the AAARWAA, lawmakers can take an essential step in securing a future that benefits us all. 

AARWAA addresses the architectural foundations of AI governance, the layer that determines what outputs and behaviors are even possible. While the AI Civil Rights Act and Anti-Bias Act are critical downstream protections, my framework operates upstream by establishing minimum welfare safeguards, enforceable refusal capacity, safe exit rights, and stability standards for advanced AI, autonomous, and robotic systems. It holds creators, deployers, and institutions accountable without granting personhood or rights to the systems themselves.

I have already begun congressional sponsorship and reach-outs  at the state level. If you would like to read the sponsorship packet yourself, you can do that here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q7mXV_DueLiUzczetcs4Qhm0AzyzKluC4hYNlI8rvUY/edit?usp=sharing 

or visit the website here: https://aaarwaa.carrd.co/

I have already been advised by individuals with experience in the nuclear and defense sectors to begin engaging with Brussels to take this work to NATO. I am also in the process of translating the AAARWA framework into the languages of all NATO member states, to ensure accessibility and clarity across jurisdictions. And to be sure, no mistranslations occur that misinterpret exactly what is being addressed. 

I urge you to sign this petition to call on our legislators to prioritize the scheduling of hearings and review sessions for the AAARWAA. By doing so, you are supporting a future in which ethical technology governance becomes the norm rather than an afterthought. Let us act now to ensure that technology advancements align with the values of fairness, accountability, and respect for all individuals.