US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at blocking states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence (AI) regulations.
We want to have one central source of approval, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.
This order provides the Trump administration with tools to resist the most onerous state rules, according to White House AI adviser David Sacks, who noted that the administration will not counter regulations related to children's safety.
The move is celebrated as a victory for tech companies advocating for nationwide AI legislation, stressing its potential positive impact on the US's ambition to be a leader in the rapidly evolving AI sector.
Critics of the order argue that state-level regulations are necessary to prevent hindrances to innovation while also safeguarding public interest. California, home to many tech giants, has already established its own AI regulations. Governor Gavin Newsom slammed the executive order, calling it an act of corruption designed to favor Trump and his associates above the protection of citizens.
Earlier in the year, Newsom had signed legislation requiring major AI developers to create risk mitigation plans for their technologies. States like Colorado and New York have likewise enacted laws regarding AI development.
Advocacy groups have voiced concerns that stripping states of the ability to enact their own protections undermines their rights to ensure safety for their residents amidst the absence of strong federal regulations.
