OpenAI and Anthropic are moving to shape artificial intelligence regulations at the state level, bypassing a gridlocked Congress that has failed to pass a national standard. The firms are engaging with lawmakers in multiple states to influence bills that would govern AI development and deployment, according to The Hill.
The shift reflects growing frustration with federal inaction, as White House and Congressional efforts to establish a unified AI safety framework remain stalled. Without a national standard, a patchwork of state laws could emerge, creating compliance challenges for companies operating across state lines.
Most major AI labs publicly support a national safety framework to preempt state-by-state variation. However, their turn to statehouses signals a pragmatic pivot: rather than waiting indefinitely, they are seeking to shape the rules that may govern them in the near term.
This state-level engagement carries risks. Critics argue that company-driven regulations could prioritize industry interests over public safety, potentially weakening consumer protections. Consumer advocacy groups have raised concerns about transparency and accountability in these nascent rules.
Despite supporting federal action, AI firms are now active participants in state policy debates. The outcome could produce a fragmented regulatory landscape that Congress may later need to reconcile—or that could become de facto national standards by dint of widespread adoption.