Congressman Troy Downing’s bill, H.R. 5784, known as the AI-WISE Act, has advanced in the legislative process after being reported favorably out of the House Committee on Small Business with bipartisan support. The legislation, sponsored by Congresswoman Hillary Scholten, is now eligible for consideration by the full House of Representatives.
Downing commented on the bill’s progress: “Small businesses in central and eastern Montana often lack the resources and information needed to facilitate technology adoption. My AI-WISE Act will help Main Street Montana stay competitive and thrive in the AI era. I’m proud to be leading this legislation with Congresswoman Scholten and look forward to getting it across the finish line.”
The AI-WISE Act requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop and maintain educational resources and online learning modules that explain how artificial intelligence tools work, their limitations and risks, how to identify AI-generated outputs, and how to keep up with rapid technological changes. The bill also directs SBA to consult with organizations such as NIST and engage resource partners like Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women’s Business Centers.
OpenAI expressed its support for H.R. 5784: “OpenAI also strongly supports H.R. 5784, the Artificial Intelligence Wisdom for Innovative Small Enterprises (AI WISE) Act. This bill would require the Small Business Administration to develop and maintain clear educational resources and online learning modules that explain how AI tools work, their limitations and risks, how to identify AI-generated outputs, and how to stay current as this technology rapidly evolves. We are encouraged that the bill directs SBA to consult with NIST and an expert advisory working group, to engage resource partners such as SBDCs and Women’s Business Centers, and to ensure that materials are actionable, accessible, and model neutral rather than favoring any one AI provider. We thank Representatives Troy Downing and Hillary Scholten for recognizing that improving AI literacy is essential if small businesses are to harness AI’s benefits while avoiding its pitfalls.”
Intuit also voiced its approval: “We write today to express our support of H.R. 5784, the Artificial Intelligence Wisdom for Innovative Small Enterprises Act or the ‘AI-WISE Act’.
“Intuit’s mission is to power prosperity around the world and we believe that artificial intelligence (AI) represents the most transformative technology of our generation, offering unparalleled opportunities for small businesses to save time, increase productivity, and achieve financial success.
“However, the effective adoption of AI, especially complex ‘agentic AI’ now being integrated into financial and marketing solutions requires a foundational level of education and trust. The AI-WISE Act addresses this critical need by directing the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish high-quality, actionable, and neutral educational resources for small business concerns.”
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, about one quarter of businesses are uncertain about whether they will use artificial intelligence in production within six months.
Additional cosponsors of H.R. 5784 include Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), and Maggie Goodlander (NH-02).
