Reuters Runs Cicconi, Herring Article on State AGs and AI

“Exploring government action on AI: State attorneys general define priorities,” an article by Akin state attorneys general practice co-heads Martine Cicconi and Mark Herring, has been published by Reuters.

The article discusses the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) at the national level, for business and government, then telescopes down to discuss state-level interest in, and actions regarding, AI, noting, “As their States' chief law enforcement officers, State AGs are keenly interested in the development and regulation of AI, and are moving quickly to understand their role in harnessing the advantages of the technology, while protecting the public from harm.”

The authors note a June 2023 letter by both Democrat and Republican state AGs to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in response to a request for comment on AI policies, as well as a September 2023 letter to Congress from AGs representing every state, plus D.C. and three U.S. territories, urging investigation of AI’s use in child exploitation.

The article looks at, among other topics, state AGs’ enforcement authority in areas such as consumer-protection laws, both traditional and data-oriented, and AI-focused risk-mitigation regulatory tools.

The authors close by noting AI’s near-limitless transformative potential and attendant risk: “And with that risk comes obvious opportunity for State AGs to act. Companies that market and use AI tools should pay close attention to AGs' priorities with respect to their industry and prepare to navigate a dynamic investigatory and regulatory environment for many years to come.”

To read the full article, click here.