On Thursday evening, Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at establishing federal authority over the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). The order instructs federal agencies to address and mitigate the influence of state AI laws, although it does not give the federal government unilateral power to override these laws. It encourages states to refrain from enacting legislation that could conflict with federal guidelines, an approach exemplified by its reference to Colorado’s recent consumer protection law regarding algorithmic discrimination.
The executive order also announces the formation of an “AI Litigation Task Force,” helmed by the attorney general, which will focus on challenging state laws perceived as incompatible with federal AI policy. Part of its mission is to uphold U.S. leadership in AI by promoting a national policy framework deemed minimally burdensome.
Moreover, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tasked with delineating conditions under which state laws altering the outputs of AI models may be exempt from the Federal Trade Commission Act’s prohibition on deceptive practices. The order further mandates a report from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick within 90 days, identifying states with conflicting laws and evaluating potential impacts on rural broadband funding.
A notable provision within the order delineates that its recommendations do not target existing lawful state AI laws addressing child safety, infrastructure, or governmental use of AI among other topics.
In recent months, a series of state-level bills aimed at regulating AI has emerged across the United States. However, attempts to establish a federal moratorium on such state laws through Congress have repeatedly stalled. Despite conflicting opinions on these regulatory strategies, the Trump administration’s current approach has prompted scrutiny from various stakeholders regarding its implications for state sovereignty and industry compliance.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/841817/trump-signs-ai-executive-order-pushing-to-ban-state-laws