US President Donald Trump is considering signing an executive order that would challenge state efforts to regulate artificial intelligence through lawsuits and withholding federal funds, WIRED has learned.
The draft order reported by WIRED directs U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to create an “Artificial Intelligence Litigation Task Force” aimed at taking states to court for passing artificial intelligence laws that allegedly violate federal laws regulating issues such as free speech and interstate commerce.
Trump could sign the order, currently titled “Eliminating State Law Obstacles to National Artificial Intelligence Policy,” as early as this week, according to four sources familiar with the matter. A White House spokesperson told WIRED that “discussion of potential executive orders is speculative.”
The order states that the Artificial Intelligence Litigation Task Force will work with several White House technology advisers, including Special Counsel on Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrencies David Sacks, to determine which states are violating federal laws detailed in the order. It points to state regulations that “require artificial intelligence models to alter their true results” or force AI developers to “report information in a manner that would violate the First Amendment or any other provision of the Constitution,” according to the bill.
The regulation specifically cites recently passed AI security laws in California and Colorado that require AI developers to publish transparency reports on, among other things, how models are trained. Gigantic Tech industry groups including the Chamber of Progress – backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Google and OpenAI – have lobbied vigorously against these efforts, which they describe as a “patchwork” approach to regulating AI that stifles innovation. Instead, these groups are lobbying for a airy set of federal regulations to guide AI’s progress.
“If the president wants to win the race on artificial intelligence, Americans need to know that artificial intelligence is safe and trustworthy,” says Cody Venzke, senior policy adviser at the American Civil Liberties Union. “This project only undermines that trust.”
The order comes as Silicon Valley increases pressure on supporters of state artificial intelligence regulations. For example, the super PAC recently funded by Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, and Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale announced the campaign against Fresh York Assemblymember Alex Bores, author of the state’s artificial intelligence security law.
House Republicans also renewed efforts to pass a blanket moratorium on states enacting artificial intelligence laws, after an earlier version of the measure failed.