The Blog at MSPC

The market is calling for more AI implementation across every sector, and the places that win won’t be the places that fear change. That’s why this effort is so timely and helps students and educators become builders, not just spectators, in the next wave of economic growth.

Mountain States Policy Center has long argued that the goal should be using technology to cut waste and trim red tape so government employees can focus on what really matters and those activities that need human interaction.

Idaho is once again in the national spotlight for its willingness to innovate and modernize. The latest effort? Fighting fires from space. During the 2025 Legislative Session, AI cameras for detecting fires became a "hot" topic of discussion.

Across our region, policymakers have been taking action that significantly moves the economic needle: cutting waste and trimming red tape. It’s a key reason Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming regularly show up among the least-regulated states in the country, and is a major draw to families, job creators, and taxpayers alike.

AI is not powered by magic or fairy dust. AI is powered by giant data centers crammed full of servers that consume massive quantities of electricity to train the AI models, stream videos, and move information around in milliseconds directly to your fingertips.

AI is transforming how we produce, consume, and distribute information. Tools powered by artificial intelligence can accelerate research, summarize gigantic data sets, write papers, and demystify for others how algorithms that analyze us work.

Congress is currently debating the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Among the many provisions is a ten-year moratorium on state Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulations to help avoid a patchwork of rules.

The President checks nearly every box that proponents of AI education are advocating for. The EO is creating a federal task force, holding student competitions, fostering industry collaboration, and fast-tracking grant programs. According to the AI education EO:

The Western states stand at a pivotal moment. While Washington has established itself as a tech powerhouse, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana offer untapped potential with their lower costs of living, abundant renewable energy resources, and high quality of life that increasingly attracts talented workers seeking alternatives to coastal tech hubs.

The Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling, brought clarity to many of the terms used in the Clean Water Act, but the EPA still needed to engage stakeholders in order to clarify interpretations for agency staff. A preliminary amended rule in September 2023 reflected the decision of the court but it circumvented much needed public commentary.