Trump's AI Deregulation Push Sparks Safety Concerns and Bipartisan Backlash

President Donald Trump is drafting an executive order to block states from enforcing regulations around artificial intelligence, igniting concerns among tech safety advocates and state lawmakers. The draft order, seen by CNN, directs the US attorney general to establish an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge and preempt state AI laws with a more lenient federal policy.

Executive Order Raises Alarms

The proposed order aims to create a 'minimally burdensome, uniform national policy framework for AI' to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance. Critics argue that this could lead to unchecked AI companies evading accountability if their tools harm consumers.

State Regulations Under Threat

In the absence of broad federal legislation, several states have already passed laws to address risky and harmful uses of AI, such as deepfakes and algorithmic discrimination in hiring. These state-level regulations are now at risk of being overridden by the federal government.

Industry and Political Reactions

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman supports the idea, arguing that navigating a patchwork of state laws would slow down innovation and affect America’s competitiveness. However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis calls the effort 'federal government overreach,' stating it will prevent states from protecting against online censorship and other issues.

Democratic Senator Ed Markey accuses Republicans of trying to sneak an AI regulation moratorium into the defense bill, siding 'with his billionaire Big Tech buddies.'

Recent Developments and Industry Engagement

Trump recently hosted a dinner at the White House for business leaders, including AI industry figures like Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, and Greg Brockman. This move comes after Congress rejected a previous attempt to impose a 10-year moratorium on state AI regulations in July.

Hundreds of organizations, including tech employee unions, consumer protection nonprofits, and educational institutions, have signed letters opposing the blocking of state AI regulations, citing safety and ethical concerns.

References

• Trump renews effort to block states from regulating AI, raising alarms about safety | CNN Business