AI regulation stalls in Congress as House votes on data center costs
Congressional efforts to regulate artificial intelligence are stalled due to partisan division, despite warnings from AI company CEOs. The House has adjourned without passing any AI legislation, leaving the future of guardrails uncertain until after the midterm elections.
Efforts to establish federal regulations for artificial intelligence are currently at a standstill in Congress, largely due to a growing partisan divide. This comes after public warnings about AI's potential dangers from former engineers of major AI companies and even CEOs, including Anthropic's Dario Amodei, who have urged Congress to enact regulations.
House Speaker Mike Johnson sent all 435 members home to their districts to campaign for re-election without passing any AI legislation, meaning that no federal guardrails will be in place until after the midterm elections. Republicans are expressing skepticism about rushing to put guardrails in place, citing the need for more time for discussion and discovery. Democrats, however, are pushing for immediate action, highlighting concerns from researchers and whistleblowers about AI's malicious potential, with some even warning of existential risks within the next decade. The Senate is expected to remain in Washington for another week, but AI legislation is unlikely to reach President Trump's desk before the midterms, making the outcome of the elections a deciding factor for future AI regulation.