Should technology that will shape America’s future be left “in the hands of 50 state legislatures?” asked Michael Solon in the New York Post. President Trump disagrees. Last week, he signed an executive order creating an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state laws on artificial intelligence that the administration considers overly burdensome. This order also threatens to restrict those states’ access to federal broadband funding. Trump noted that America’s global leadership in AI “won’t last long” if every state imposes its own regulations, forcing AI companies to seek multiple approvals for their actions. For instance, California’s regulations require AI models to comply with strict guidelines, or face hefty fines. However, Trump’s order may face legal challenges since the Constitution assigns Congress—not the president—the authority to regulate industries involved in interstate commerce. Nevertheless, given the current congressional dysfunction and the urgency of competing against China’s unrestricted AI development, the president’s actions might be seen as justified.
Trump campaigned on “America First,” noted Dave Lee in Bloomberg, but in matters of AI, he appears to prioritize Silicon Valley. As Trump signed the order, venture capitalist David Sacks, who has been advocating for a moratorium on state laws since last year, was visibly pleased. Sacks and other billionaires prefer fewer regulations that could potentially impact profits, including those aimed at safeguarding minors from harmful AI interactions. They are counting on federal inaction to avoid imposing any restrictions.
Former defense secretary Chuck Hagel emphasized the importance of taking the AI threat from China seriously, asserting that state regulation might actually be the best defense. The laws being developed at the state level—including those addressing deepfake impersonation and AI-driven scams—are often dismissed by industry leaders as mere social issues. However, weak regulations could make the U.S. vulnerable to attacks that could undermine elections and civic trust. Establishing federal oversight when it is not fully developed would be misguided.
The implications of Trump’s order have drawn bipartisan criticism, stated Tina Nguyen in The Verge. Many on the left are alarmed by the potential for unchecked profit-seeking and the threat of job losses due to AI. Meanwhile, figures on the right, such as Steve Bannon, have accused Sacks of misleading Trump about the implications of supporting this “AI amnesty.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis condemned what he sees as federal overreach that allows tech companies too much freedom. Bannon and DeSantis are tapping into genuine concerns among conservative voters about the effects of unregulated technology, advocating for the protection of citizens’ well-being over the interests of tech moguls.
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