Brief news summary

State legislatures in the US are taking the lead in regulating artificial intelligence (AI) due to the absence of federal laws. Colorado recently enacted a law to address consumer harm and discrimination caused by AI systems. Other states like New Mexico and Iowa are also focused on regulating computer-generated explicit images. The growing demand from constituents for AI protections has driven these actions. While Congress has considered tech regulation bills, no laws have been passed. However, federal efforts such as the American Privacy Rights Act of 2024 and the AI policy roadmap from the Bipartisan Senate Artificial Intelligence Working Group indicate progress. This year alone, state legislatures have introduced over 300 AI-related bills, leading to 11 states implementing new AI laws. The increasing use of AI in public settings, including chatbots and voice assistants, has underscored the need for regulation. Finding a balance between industry interests and privacy remains a challenge. Over-regulation may stifle innovation, while insufficient regulation could pose privacy concerns and enable discrimination. Colorado's law, for instance, targets high-risk AI systems in areas like hiring, banking, and housing, mandating developers to avoid bias and disclose algorithmic discrimination. State legislation covers various aspects of AI, such as collaboration, data privacy, transparency, discrimination prevention, AI use in elections and schools, and the criminalization of explicit AI-generated images. Additionally, legislators highlight the importance of keeping up with AI advancements while considering the potential for job creation.