"The Trump administration is in the process of pivoting from an AI policy built largely around opposing and dismantling AI regulation, to a possible federal licensing regime for AI models. Meanwhile, support for AI regulation is building on both sides of the aisle on Capitol Hill, and if the Democrats seize at least one Congressional house in November, the passage of AI legislation of some kind is almost guaranteed. Not only that, but President Donald Trump's visit to China last week seems to have signaled a significant shift in the administration's thinking on international AI governance too."
"This transition is driven by two things. One is the public backlash against AI, which has gained significant momentum in the past few months, as a story in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week chronicled. The viral video of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt's commencement address at the University of Arizona in which the graduating students roundly booed him every time he mentioned AI is just one data point. A litany of recent polls have shown that most Americans are more fearful than hopeful about AI, with the gap sometimes as wide as 40 percentage points."
"Seven in 10 Americans oppose the construction of data centers in their local community. An Annenberg Public Policy Center poll released last week found that two-thirds of Americans thought the government had done too little to regulate AI, a view held by the majority of Republicans and independents, as well as Democrats. Politicians know they can't afford to be on the wrong side of numbers like this."
Public sentiment toward AI has shifted toward fear and opposition to local data centers, with polls showing large gaps between hopeful and fearful views. Many Americans believe the government has done too little to regulate AI, including majorities across Republicans, independents, and Democrats. In Washington, D.C., the Trump administration is pivoting from dismantling AI regulation toward considering a federal licensing regime for AI models. Support for AI regulation is growing on Capitol Hill, and passage of AI legislation becomes likely if Democrats win at least one congressional house. International AI governance may also be shifting following a Trump visit to China.
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