Trump tried to block states from regulating AI, but some are forging ahead

Six months after Trump wagged a finger at the states and told them to keep their regulatory mitts off AI, lawmakers across the country are doing exactly what he asked them not to. The federal government is still playing the world's longest game of legislative footsie, so states like California, Colorado, and New York are crafting their own 'targeted rules' — because nothing says 'responsible AI governance' like a patchwork of conflicting state laws that will have compliance officers weeping into their oat milk lattes. Congress, meanwhile, is busy holding hearings and writing sternly worded letters that accomplish precisely nothing.

The irony is almost too rich to digest: the same administration that preaches states' rights on everything from abortion to environmental standards suddenly discovered the virtues of federal supremacy when it comes to AI. Trump's warning — effectively a 'don't you dare' memo — has been about as effective as a paper umbrella in a hurricane. States are forging ahead with rules on algorithmic bias, transparency, and consumer protection, because waiting for Washington to act is like waiting for a glacier to finish a marathon.

This is exactly the kind of regulatory chaos that the AI industry says it fears — though, secretly, many labs probably prefer a weak federal law preempting stronger state action. But for now, they get the worst of both worlds: no national framework and a growing thicket of state-level requirements. The only clear winner here is the legal industry, which is already drafting the antitrust and preemption challenges that will keep billable hours flowing for a decade. Splendid.