1. United States
2. Idaho
3. Letter

The proposal to ban state regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) for 10 years is misguided and should be rejected. AI is a powerful and rapidly evolving technology with far-reaching implications, and responsible governance is crucial to mitigate potential risks and harms. Imposing a blanket, decade-long prohibition on state AI regulations would hamper the ability of states to respond nimbly to emerging issues and protect the rights and well-being of their citizens. While a patchwork of conflicting state laws could create challenges for businesses, an outright federal preemption is an overreaction that disregards the principles of federalism and states' authority to safeguard their residents. AI systems can perpetuate biases, compromise privacy, and impact consequential decisions about employment, housing, education, and criminal justice. States must retain the flexibility to enact guardrails and oversight mechanisms tailored to their specific needs and values. Moreover, a 10-year moratorium is an arbitrary timeframe that fails to account for the pace of technological change. AI capabilities are advancing rapidly, and the risks and societal impacts may evolve significantly over such an extended period. Responsible governance requires an agile and responsive approach, not a rigid decade-long freeze on state action. Rather than imposing sweeping limitations, Congress should work collaboratively with states and stakeholders to develop a balanced national framework that establishes baseline standards and promotes consistency, while preserving states' ability to implement additional protections as deemed necessary. AI regulation is a complex challenge that demands a nuanced, multi-layered approach, not a blunt, one-size-fits-all solution.