Image Credit: Tennessee Attorney General / Facebook, Whitehouse.gov & Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
After the signing of a new Executive Order by President Trump which could limit a state’s ability to enact its own regulations on artificial intelligence, Tennessee’s Attorney General has weighed in on the matter, offering his general support for ensuring AI dominance within a federal framework that does not trample on state sovereignty.
The Executive Order (EO) “Ensuring A National Policy Framework For Artificial Intelligence” seeks to “sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework for AI” through eliminating overregulation and ideological bias.
“To win, United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation. But excessive State regulation thwarts that imperative,” the EO reads. “First, State-by-State regulation by definition creates a patchwork of 50 different regulatory regimes that makes compliance more challenging, particularly for start-ups. Second, State laws are increasingly responsible for requiring entities to embed ideological bias within models. For example, a new Colorado law banning ‘algorithmic discrimination’ may even force AI models to produce false results in order to avoid a ‘differential treatment or impact’ on protected groups. Third, State laws sometimes impermissibly regulate beyond State borders, impinging on interstate commerce.”
Questions have arisen about laws already in place or new legislative proposals in states like Tennessee who have been working toward more AI regulation, but Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti doesn’t seem to consider the EO a problem at this juncture.
“This executive order does not appear to pose an obstacle to Tennessee’s AI-related laws. The President is right that we need to promote innovation and ensure AI dominance. Our future depends on it,” Skrmetti wrote in a social media post addressing the matter.
But the AG also stressed the importance of not blindly allowing the federal government to create a framework which would impede the state’s ability to thoroughly protect its citizens, especially children.
“There is a real risk that comes with onerous and bureaucratic strangulation of AI development. But we value innovation because it solves problems. AI platforms that put our kids at risk are moving in the wrong direction,” he stated. “Until the federal government has the laws and resources necessary to hold AI platforms accountable for harm to kids, the states are the only line of defense, and we are going to hold that line. If any federal agency tries to interfere with Tennessee’s sovereign duty to protect our kids, creators, and consumers from harmful AI products, we will litigate and we will win.”
Skrmetti’s comments bode well for a piece of proposed legislation by Rep. Mary Littleton seeking to create severe consequences for using AI to encourage suicide or homicide or otherwise impersonate a human being.
Based on the AG’s viewpoint, it does not appear he believes such a bill would clash with the EO, and he potentially would be willing to legally defend the measure should the Trump administration take issue with the bill if it passes.
The General Assembly will further discuss the bill and likely address compliance issues, should there be any, when it reconvenes in January.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
AI NEEDS strict regulation by states.