AI Industry Intensifies Lobbying for Federal Regulation as Congressional Prospects Dim
Following President Trump's executive order requiring AI companies to submit advanced models for 30-day federal review, the industry has launched aggressive lobbying efforts to secure comprehensive federal legislation. Congress faces a crowded legislative calendar with only weeks remaining before midterm elections, and skepticism from both parties—Republicans opposing industry wins and Democrats preferring to wait until after elections—makes passage unlikely this year. The outcome matters because a patchwork of state and local AI regulations creates compliance challenges for companies, and the timing of federal action could shape how AI development is governed.
The AI industry is ramping up lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill following Trump's Tuesday executive order on advanced AI technology, which requires companies to share their latest models with the federal government for 30-day review before public release. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with multiple congressional leaders including Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and various House and Senate members to promote his firm's blueprint for federal oversight. However, prospects for passing comprehensive AI legislation this year appear increasingly slim, with only weeks of active legislating remaining before midterm elections that could shift power to Democrats. Key obstacles include skepticism from both parties—anti-tech Republicans like Senator Josh Hawley oppose handing AI firms legislative wins, while many Democrats prefer waiting until after elections to claim ownership of the final product. Representatives Jay Obernolte and Lori Trahan plan to release a discussion draft this week as a potential regulatory starting point, and notably, OpenAI has shifted to supporting a "reverse federalism" approach that builds on existing state laws rather than preempting them.
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- SemaforCenter
AI lobbying intensifies around unlikely deal
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