In an assertion of state rights over the progression of AI regulation, Tennessee's Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has joined forces with AGs from Colorado, New Hampshire, and Vermont to co-lead a bipartisan letter to Congress vehemently opposing a federal amendment that would prevent states from enforcing their own AI regulations. This letter, underpinned by 36 other state attorneys general's signatures, stands as a testament to the collective concern over Big Tech's use and potential abuse of artificial intelligence.
"AI has incredible potential but amplifies every risk we've seen from Big Tech and creates new risks we don't fully understand. Eliminating state oversight through this reconciliation amendment guarantees Americans will suffer repeated violations of their privacy, consumer protection, and antitrust laws," mentioned Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, according to a press release. The proposed federal ban is seen as a removal of states' abilities to act as regulatory gatekeepers amid the federal government's evident abeyance on the issue.
The urgency of the letter is underscored by the rapid advance of artificial intelligence and its pervasive integration into various sectors of society. The technology's evolution has kept state law enforcement on high alert, ranging from risks like election interference and exposure to explicit materials to more insidious threats such as consumer exploitation and privacy infringements. These state officials stress the role of local legislatures and the experience they've garnered through years of navigating these technological challenges.
As the attorneys general warn, without state-led initiatives, consumers would find themselves vulnerable to a technology landscape that evolves too swiftly to rely solely on broad federal oversight. The bipartisan coalition, including territories like American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands along with a vast array of states from different regions, unitedly "respectfully urges Congress to reject the AI moratorium added to the budget reconciliation bill," as expressed in their collective correspondence. Their stance suggests a commitment to maintaining a patchwork of state-level protections, tailored to address AI's multifaceted implications as they arise, to safeguard local constituents in a rapidly unfolding digital epoch.
