Jennifer Huddleston
Jennifer Huddleston
The general public has become increasingly excited and concerned about advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Many of us have been encountering and using AI in an array of products for some time without realizing it, such as search engines and chatbots.
However, the popularity and advancement of publicly available generative AI products like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Dall‑E have captured the attention of both the public and policymakers. The previous Congress saw both the House and Senate release suggestions for how policymakers should consider what—if any—legislation is needed. The GOP platform vowed to revoke the Biden administration’s executive order on AI, and many lawmakers in both red and blue states have already pre-filed bills related to this rapidly emerging technology.
What should policymakers consider, and what is likely to happen as this next phase of the AI policy debate emerges?
Focus AI Policy on Supporting the Benefits of the Technology, Not Just Eliminating the Harms
New technologies are often disruptive, and policymakers initially seek a legislative response that ensures safety first, even at the expense of increased access, innovation, and speech.
AI has seen a similar panic initially emerge with sci-fi movie-esque doomsday scenarios. Less attention is paid to how AI is impactful and provides myriad benefits, from giving stroke victims their voices back to predicting how wildfires might move. As of January 2025, 55 percent of chief operating officers in a survey conducted by PYMNTS indicated they were using AI to improve cybersecurity.
However, much of the policy debate around the world has focused on preventing the negatives. This has significant potential unintended consequences for the beneficial applications.
As mentioned, the GOP platform calls to revoke the Biden-era executive order on AI. This executive order represented a much more precautionary and regulatory approach to technology, as has typically been seen in Europe. » Read More
https://www.cato.org/blog/new-year-new-ai-policy