When the AI regulatory boom returns next year, Virginia lawmakers have an opportunity to support innovation, improve consumer choice, and remove unnecessary compliance hurdles that can grind innovation to a halt. It turns out.
Jake Morabito, Director of ALEC's Communications Technology Task Force, recently published an op-ed in The Virginian-Pilot analyzing the latest legislative debates on AI and praising Governor Glenn Youngkin's vision to make Virginia a leader in AI technology. Contributed to.
Major companies like Amazon and Boeing are establishing a presence here in the Commonwealth, eschewing traditional tech hubs like San Francisco and Seattle. These developments give Virginia an opportunity to become a cornerstone of American technological development. But as lawmakers across the country debate regulations around breakthrough technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Virginia's future as a technology leader is far from secure.
One industry group estimates that more than 200 AI bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country. These proposals cover a wide range of topics, including the use of AI in political campaigns, transparency and disclosure requirements, and how government agencies can responsibly deploy AI tools to improve services. Unfortunately, these same state legislators are enforcing strict top-down government controls on AI development in the name of safety, security, and trust.
California, Connecticut, Illinois, New York and Vermont are rushing forward with sweeping proposals to limit the use of AI in “consequential decision-making,” particularly in “high-risk” sectors such as education, employment, housing, insurance and health care. I proceeded. These industries, regardless of which technology is used, are already heavily regulated by states and have numerous anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws that provide legal remedies for victims.
Virginia lawmakers had a choice in the 2024 legislative session. Support Governor Glenn Yonkin's vision to make Virginia a national AI leader, or let questionable oversight sink this promising industry before it gets off the ground.
Read the full editorial here.
