In a dynamic show of unity across diverse political backgrounds, Attorney General Nick Brown has joined forces with Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, and others in a collective stance against a controversial congressional amendment. A total of 39 state attorneys general have penned a bipartisan letter to Congress, firmly opposing a budget reconciliation bill amendment that would bar states from imposing any laws or regulations concerning artificial intelligence (AI) for a decade. This information comes from a statement released by Brown's office.
Attorney General Brown warned, "At the pace technology and AI moves, limiting state laws and regulations for 10 years is dangerous," expressing concern about the federal government falling behind on AI oversight while simultaneously restricting states' abilities to protect citizens, the letter conveyed the urgency of allowing states to remain vigilant guardians of AI applications, which hold the potential to transform America's economy but also harbor risks spanning from election interference to exploitation and harassment against consumers, and with AI and its applications advancing at breakneck speeds, states argue they should not be handcuffed in their ability to respond to these challenges and protect the public interest.
The coalition of attorneys general argues that states have been consistently proactive in developing laws and safeguards tailored to artificial intelligence, through processes that involve broad public engagement and consideration of various stakeholders, including consumers, the industry, and advocates. State regulations on AI, they say, have been "developed over years through careful consideration and extensive stakeholder input from consumers, industry, and advocates," as per the statement, warning Congress of the perils of limiting state action in a domain as crucial and unpredictable as AI technology.
Without a robust alternative federal framework, the proposed amendment would effectively strip states of key protective measures against AI abuse, putting Americans at the mercy of its known dangers and the ever-changing real-world implications—this scenario could foster potentially dangerous consequences, and while the federal government seems to be taking a passive role regarding AI governance, the bipartisan letter emphatically urges Congress to reconsider imposing a restriction on states' regulatory authority, emphasizing that such a moratorium would be nothing short of leaving AI entirely unregulated at any level and Americans completely exposed to its known harms and evolving, real-world risks—ultimately leading to dangerous consequences for the American people.
The diverse group behind the campaign to sway Congress includes attorneys general from across the nation, such as those from American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and Wisconsin, in addition to the leaders from Colorado, Tennessee, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
