In the ongoing battle to protect the autonomy of the private sector and champion limited regulation in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) development, several Attorneys General (AGs) have emerged as steadfast advocates. As reported by Route Fifty:
"...Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes and 19 other Republican state AGs sent a letter to Secretary Gina Raimondo in response to the Commerce Department’s request for information on developing guidelines to enable deployment of safe, secure and trustworthy systems. The AGs objected primarily to Biden’s AI executive order, which they said was the basis for the RFI saying it 'moves in the wrong direction.'"
Notably, our Mountain States AGs from Idaho and Montana, signed the letter alongside their peers. The AG's wrote:
"As attorneys general, we have substantial experience enforcing consumer protection, competition, and civil rights laws. We also have been leaders in litigation involving Big Tech. We are cognizant of how technology can affect our citizens, and we are vigilant about enforcing laws to protect them. Artificial Intelligence ('AI') has the potential to transform industries ranging from internet search to social media, education, law, and health care. It also will undoubtedly impact critical business processes that affect every industry, including hiring, lending, investing, and underwriting. There is broad, bipartisan agreement that, like other significant advancements in human history, AI carries not only the promise of substantial economic benefits but also brings risks that should be understood and addressed.
. . . As the chief law-enforcement officers of our states, we share the goal of safe, trustworthy AI. The issues related to AI are complex and important, but they must be addressed by our constitutional, democratic process, not by executive fiat. The administration should work with Congress and states across the political spectrum to find bipartisan solutions that can help our country harness the power of AI and use it for the good of all, rather than only for one political party or specific groups of people."
The collaborative effort among these AGs reflects a shared commitment to upholding the pillars of free market capitalism and individual liberty. By voicing concerns over centralized control and potential political influence in AI development, these AGs are sending a clear message: the private sector must be allowed to innovate and thrive without undue interference from governmental entities. The Mountain States is not immune to federal government overreach, and having the AGs from two of our states lends further weight to this collective stance, demonstrating a unified front in safeguarding economic freedom and entrepreneurship.
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen (Upper Photo), Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador (Lower Photo)
By advocating for a regulatory environment that strikes a balance between innovation and oversight, the AGs seek to unleash the full potential of AI technology while ensuring equitable access and opportunity for all. Together with their counterparts, they form a formidable coalition in the fight against federal overreach, advocating for policies that foster entrepreneurship, drive economic growth, and benefit communities across the nation.
As we navigate the complexities of AI's potential, the collaborative efforts of these AGs, including those from Idaho and Montana, serve as a beacon of hope for defenders of free market principles. By standing firm against undue governmental interference and championing limited regulation, they pave the way for a future where innovation thrives, businesses prosper, and economic opportunity abounds.