Technology
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Technology
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What to know about the GOP push to ban state AI laws
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House Republicans pushed forward last week with a bid to ban state regulation of artificial intelligence (AI), sparking debate among the tech community and lawmakers over its implications for the emerging tech.
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The proposal passed the House on Thursday morning as part of a sweeping tax and spending bill. Now, it faces an uphill battle in the Senate in the wake of procedural rules and potential resistance from some GOP senators.
The proposal, tucked into President Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill,” calls for a 10-year moratorium on state laws regulating AI models, systems or automated decision systems. This includes enforcement of existing and future laws on the state level.
Proponents of the moratorium argue a patchwork of state laws can be confusing or burdensome for technology companies to follow when operating in multiple parts of the country.
“Right now, there are over a thousand bills on the topic of AI regulation pending in state legislatures across the country,” Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) said during the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s markup of the measure.
“Imagine how difficult it would be for a federal agency that operates in all 50 states to have to navigate this labyrinth of regulation when we potentially have 50 different states going 50 different directions on the topic of AI regulation,” Obernolte adding, referring to the ongoing push to incorporate AI into federal agencies.
“This is exactly the same circumstances that we are putting private industry in as they attempt to deploy AI,” he added.
The bill includes some exemptions for states’ enforcement of laws focused on promoting AI development.
This includes regulations that seek to remove barriers or facilitate the use of AI models and systems or those focused on streamlining processes like licensing or permitting to help AI adoption.
The push aligns with the Trump administration’s broader pro-innovation agenda that prioritizes technology development over regulations that hamper U.S. innovation and competitiveness.
Check out the full report at TheHill.com tomorrow.
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Welcome to The Hill’s Technology newsletter, I'm Julia Shapero — tracking the latest moves from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley.
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How policy will be impacting the tech sector now and in the future:
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The European Commission announced Tuesday that it is investigating a handful of pornographic platforms in an effort to protect minors from harmful online content. Those found in violation could face a significant fine. The commission is launching investigations into Pornhub, XVideos, Stripchat and XNXX to assess the age verification measures to prevent minors from accessing the site. It is also looking at how the sites evaluate …
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Tech billionaire Elon Musk is prompting questions about his next steps as he signals he might wind down his political activity. Last week, the Tesla CEO said he’s planning to scale back his spending after injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into the 2024 election, a big potential blow for GOP campaign coffers moving forward. The announcement comes as Musk also cools his involvement in the Trump White House to turn more …
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California Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D) on Monday blasted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over a delay in multilingual disaster alerts. At the beginning of the year, the FCC pledged to implement an order requiring wireless providers to distribute emergency alters in the 13 most commonly spoken languages in the U.S. in addition to English and American Sign Language. However, four months later, citizens are still …
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A cryptocurrency investor is facing charges of kidnapping and assault after officials alleged he tortured another man for weeks while demanding information to access their Bitcoin. John Woeltz, a 37-year-old man, pleaded not guilty Saturday to the charges he faces, including kidnapping with intent to collect ransom, assault with intent to cause physical injury, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a firearm. …
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News we've flagged from the intersection of tech and other topics:
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Elon Musk's Neuralink raises $600 million in deal valuing the company at $9 billion (Semafor)
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Tesla sales in Europe and the United Kingdom fall by nearly half, while BYD gains ground (TechCrunch)
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Trump Media's bitcoin moves
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© Yuki Iwamura, Bloomberg via Getty Images
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Welcome to Crypto Corner, a daily feature focused on digital currency and its outlook in Washington.
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Trump Media and Technology Group, the company behind President Trump's Truth Social platform, is making a new foray into the crypto world.
The company announced Tuesday that it plans to raise $2.5 billion to buy bitcoin and build up a reserve.
Some 50 investors will buy $1.5 billion in Trump Media stock and $1 billion in company notes to help raise the funds to create a bitcoin treasury, according to a press release.
“It’s a big step forward in the Company’s plans to evolve into a holding company by acquiring additional profit-generating, crown jewel assets consistent with America First principles,” Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes said in a statement.
Trump Media, which initially launched with a focus on building out the president’s social media platform, has increasingly sought to expand its financial offerings, with a particular eye toward digital assets.
In March, the company unveiled a partnership with Crypto.com to launch a series of exchange traded funds (ETFs), set to comprise digital assets and securities “with a Made in America focus.”
Other firms associated with the president and his family have also expanded their ties to the crypto industry in recent months, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and complicating the administration’s efforts to pass long-sought crypto legislation.
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Branch out with other reads on The Hill:
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Mysterious sphere in Colombia sparks UFO talk
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Scientists in Mexico are reportedly studying a metal orb that they think could have extraterrestrial origins after it was recovered in Colombia earlier this year, piquing online interest of a potential unidentified flying object (UFO). The sphere marked with decorative etchings was filmed floating erratically through the sky before it crashed near Buga, Colombia, in March and captured the attention of UFO enthusiasts. A video …
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Two key stories on The Hill right now:
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Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on Tuesday announced he was running for governor with the launch of his campaign website, creating an open GOP primary … Read more
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The fiscal impact of President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which one prominent budget hawk called a “debt bomb,” is becoming a significant … Read more
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Opinions related to tech submitted to The Hill:
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!
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