‘States should have a say’: Candidates for governor race to take on AI regulation

Gubernatorial candidates throughout the United States are competing to establish their stances on artificial intelligence (AI), as the debate over governing the technology gains momentum. Governors from both parties, such as Gavin Newsom in California, Ron DeSantis in Florida, and Kathy Hochul in New York, have begun to join the conversation, advocating for state-level action to implement safeguards on AI.

Although many candidates have yet to determine how they would implement these regulations, the majority expressed a desire for states to assume the lead, driven by a sense of frustration with Washington's sluggish response and recognition of the potential perils of AI. Candidates mentioned various concerns, including fraud, job displacement, and children's safety.

Though the federal government has yet to take a leading role in AI regulation, the lack of federal action has prompted candidates to call for more immediate state-level intervention. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor in Texas, emphasized that state government is more directly responsible for Texans' daily lives and urged her opponent, Republican Greg Abbott, to prioritize Texans' needs over corporate gains.

California's potential next governor, Xavier Becerra, is actively seeking input from tech leaders and economists to draft stringent guardrails for AI use, asserting that California has a pivotal role to play in ensuring the technology's safety. Republican opponent Steve Hilton, however, contends that some warnings about AI are exaggerated and suggests that Congress and state politicians should refrain from discussing issues they do not fully understand.

Recent warnings from prominent AI figures have alarmed both political parties in Washington and the campaign trail. According to a recent POLITICO poll, a majority of voters now believe that AI presents an existential threat to humanity, and a plurality of respondents desire a temporary suspension of advanced AI model development. Alyssa Cass, a Democratic strategist, noted that the general public is increasingly engaging with AI-related concerns beyond their initial apprehensions about data centers.

The National Governors Association, which held a working group on AI and workforce impacts earlier this year, intends to unveil a policy roadmap for governors in November, offering guidance on state-level actions. With 39 gubernatorial elections scheduled for November and 21 new governors set to assume office in January, the NGA aims to provide resources for both incumbent governors grappling with the issue and incoming governors eager to tackle AI concerns proactively.

While Democrats have been most vocal in criticizing the Republican-controlled federal government for its delay in implementing AI safeguards, Republicans are not immune to the calls for action. Some Republican candidates, like Iowa's Zach Lahn, echoed the sentiment that states should have a say in regulating AI, stressing the importance of protecting residents from potential harms.