BS BULLETIN:
- Barack Obama is urging Democrats to make artificial intelligence regulation a major part of their agenda if they retake the House.
- Ron DeSantis responded with one rather pointed question about putting Democrats in charge of AI oversight.
- The twist: DeSantis himself has been one of the Republican Party’s strongest advocates for AI guardrails and an “AI Bill of Rights.”
Former President Barack Obama wants Democrats to get serious about regulating artificial intelligence. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears considerably less enthusiastic about who Obama wants doing the regulating.
Obama reportedly urged Democrats during a Manhattan fundraiser to develop a comprehensive framework for AI, telling House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that the technology is moving extraordinarily quickly in private hands.
“If we don’t get on top of it, I think can be dangerous,” Obama said. “If we do get on top of it, I do think it’s beneficial.”
Obama said Democrats should be ready to move if they win the House in November. “Once you are speaker, I would strongly urge that the Democrats put together a framework for a very public conversation,” Obama told Jeffries.
Jeffries agreed, saying Democrats would act “urgently” while trying to preserve America’s technological advantage and establish “meaningful guardrails.”
That prompted a rather different reaction from DeSantis.
Responding to the suggestion that Democrats should oversee the AI revolution, the Florida governor asked: “Could you imagine anything worse?”
That’s funny, but there’s some important context here. DeSantis isn’t arguing that AI should be left completely alone. Quite the opposite.
He’s spent months pushing Florida lawmakers to adopt an AI Bill of Rights covering data privacy, parental controls, consumer protections, AI-generated explicit material and unauthorized use of a person’s name, image or likeness. His proposal would also restrict government use of Chinese-created AI tools.
DeSantis has warned that the technology is developing too rapidly simply to wait around for Washington. “Things are happening very quickly, and the earth is moving underneath the feet of the American people,” DeSantis said earlier this year, arguing there were inadequate safeguards governing the technology.
His Florida proposal ultimately stalled in the state Legislature despite polling showing overwhelming public support for AI protections.
So the emerging Republican argument isn’t quite as simple as “regulation versus no regulation.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned Sunday against Congress racing into emergency AI legislation, saying overly aggressive regulation could jeopardize America’s technological competition with China. He nevertheless said AI safety is a legitimate concern and suggested bringing political leaders and major AI companies together to search for solutions.
President Trump has been more skeptical of the growing alarm.
“We’re leading China in AI,” Trump told reporters Sunday. “We’re the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly, I want to keep it that way.”
Trump said he believes “negative forces” are raising fears about scenarios that “won’t happen.”
DeSantis occupies an interesting spot in between. He wants significant protections against AI. He just doesn’t seem eager to put Barack Obama and congressional Democrats in charge of designing them.
MY QUICK TAKE
“Could you imagine anything worse?”
Well, Governor, you really shouldn’t issue challenges like that to Washington.
They have committees specifically designed to answer them.
DBS WIRE SOURCES:
- Twitchy — DeSantis comments on suggestion of Democrat AI oversight
- Axios — Johnson calls for AI solutions but says Congress won’t take the lead
- CNN — Political debate over AI intensifies amid warnings about catastrophic risk
- Florida Governor’s Office — DeSantis proposes Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights
- Washington Post — States forge ahead on AI regulations
