(Red State)—Back in January President Trump stated that “It is the policy of the United States to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security” and ordered an action plan to achieve that policy be prepared and delivered within 180 days.
It hasn’t been 180 days and the action plan hasn’t been delivered – so we don’t know what it might or might not contain – yet the issue of AI regulation is a controversial part of the “Big, Beautiful Bill” currently in the Senate. The House version of the reconciliation bill contains a provision prohibiting states from regulating AI for 10 years:
In general.–Except as provided in paragraph (2), no State or political subdivision thereof may enforce, during the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, any law or regulation of that State or a political subdivision thereof limiting, restricting, or otherwise regulating artificial intelligence models, artificial intelligence systems, or automated decision systems entered into interstate commerce.
There are a few exceptions to the moratorium, all of which are aimed at making AI adoption easier and absolving manufacturers of liability.
Unless the White House’s AI action plan includes methods for dealing with the myriad problems unregulated AI adoption poses – and for dealing with them quickly – the provision should be scrapped.
Among the reasons some are opposed to the provision is potential job losses due to AI-powered automation. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said she didn’t realize the AI provision was included in the bill before she voted on it, and that she wouldn’t have voted yes if she knew it was there. As it stands today there’s a fair chance the Senate won’t pass the bill without changes, meaning it would need to go back to the House for final passage. In an appearance on OAN Tuesday Greene vowed to vote against the bill unless the “poison pill” moratorium on regulating AI is removed, citing potential job losses.
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