Scaling Laws The AI Moratorium Goes Down in Flames
Jul 2, 2025
Adam Thierer, a senior fellow at the R Street Institute, and Helen Toner, director at Georgetown's CSET, delve into the recent Senate defeat of a proposed AI regulation moratorium. They discuss the complexities of legislative maneuvers, the fragmentation within the Republican party on tech policy, and the implications for future AI governance. The duo emphasizes the need for a coherent national dialogue on AI regulations while balancing innovation with safety, drawing parallels to past regulatory challenges.
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Right-Wing Divide on AI Policy
- The conservative movement is deeply divided over AI and tech policy, split between a pro-innovation tech right and a populist, skeptical right.
- This internal battle influenced the moratorium's downfall and defines future AI governance challenges.
Cultural Fear Shapes AI Policy
- Some on the right view AI as a societal threat, akin to social media harms or dystopian futures.
- This cultural fear complicates rational AI policy discussions and fuels opposition to deregulation.
Big Tech Faces Setback on AI Moratorium
- The failure of the moratorium is a public relations loss for big tech but not a fatal blow.
- It shows that big tech can't always dictate Washington policy despite their influence.