Representative Soper presses sponsors on 'what is AI?'; chair sustains objection for speculation

During consideration of the first bill on the agenda, Representative Soper told the chair she had questions that were unanswered in judiciary and asked sponsors a basic definitional question about artificial intelligence. Soper said she was "hoping maybe we could start with kind of the big questions in terms of, what is AI?"

The chair or another member immediately raised an objection, saying only, "Object. Speculation." The chair then moved the committee back to order and curtailed the line of questioning, and the meeting proceeded with procedural business and motions sending bills to the Committee of the Whole.

No sponsors provided an extended definition of "AI" on the record in this session, and the transcript shows the committee did not resolve the conceptual question during this meeting. The exchange was brief and limited to a procedural objection; no formal finding or staff direction on defining artificial intelligence was recorded before the committee voted on the bills.

The committee’s work that day remained procedural: the amendment phase for the items was closed and the committee completed roll-call votes that moved the bills forward. Representative Soper’s request for clarification from sponsors on the meaning and scope of AI was recorded but not answered in this hearing.