Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Tees Up State Leaders’ AI Regulation Plan

With federal AI regulation stalled, Maryland Governor Wes Moore is leading a bipartisan coalition of state leaders to establish AI regulatory standards. Moore, who chairs the National Governors Association, is collaborating with Indiana Governor Mike Braun and other governors to craft an AI framework. Moore emphasized that while the federal government should lead, they must act now, stating, "The governors cannot just sit on our hands" in the absence of federal action.

Moore criticized President Donald Trump's recent White House meeting with AI executives as a "billionaire boys club" and Congress for delaying action until after the midterm elections. Reports from AI developers themselves have expressed concerns about the technology's potential dangers, fueling a public backlash. Several states, including Maryland, California, Illinois, Oregon, and Virginia, have issued executive orders or taken other steps to create AI standards.

However, states face limitations in regulating technology that transcends boundaries. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, a vocal critic of the industry, plans to introduce legislation to hold AI developers criminally and civilly liable for causing harm with their advanced models. Despite the opposition from the White House, Moore believes the governors' initiative is necessary due to the voluntary and non-binding nature of Trump's agreement with AI CEOs.