States maintain lead on AI regulation in Trump era
California capitol building. Photo: Bruce Barcott
Nov. 15, 2024 — The state-led efforts to establish guardrails on artificial intelligence are likely to continue unabated when President-elect Trump takes office next year. They could even accelerate if Trump follows through on a promise to repeal President Biden’s executive order on AI.
States have taken the early lead on AI regulation in the absence of congressional action. And a bipartisan working group of state lawmakers has been meeting in anticipation of another round of AI legislating in 2025.
Those efforts could gain fresh urgency when Trump returns to the White House.
Among the AI bills California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed this year were transparency requirements regarding the data used to train AI systems and a requirement that developers provide a tool that allows users to see if content was created or altered by AI.
The Seattle-based Transparency Coalition wants to export those laws to a half dozen more states in 2025. The nonprofit is also advocating for a “duty of care” approach to AI regulation, similar to how other consumer products are regulated for safety. Transparency Coalition Chairman Rob Eleveld said Trump’s election does not affect his strategy and that the organization’s work in the states is with “a 100% bipartisan lens.”