A moratorium is a temporary delay in carrying something out. In this case, NCOSE is asking the Trump administration to hold off on enforcing a ban regarding the states’ ability to regulate AI within their own borders.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday about signing a one rule executive order. The purpose of it is to keep the U.S. ahead of other countries in the AI race, but he says that cannot be done because of 50 states being involved in the “rules and the approval process.”
“You can’t expect a company to get 50 Approvals every time they want to do something. THAT WILL NEVER WORK!” reads Trump’s post.
Tim Nester is the vice president of communications with the NCOSE.
"We saw this week that there are plans for an executive order to be signed by President Trump this week,” informs Nester. “We still don't know all the details of this as of today. Those could come at any point. It could be signed at any point."
He explained that, based on how President Trump's team is talking, this would essentially preempt states from passing regulatory laws for AI development.
"The purpose of it — I believe — their stated purpose is to help America stay competitive in the space, but the ripple effect, the devastating effect in some cases, is that states will not be able to use the protective laws they've already passed," states Nester.
Age verification and App Store accountability are examples such things that states could be restricted from using.
"And other really important legislation that has been passed to protect families, to protect kids, especially when it comes to AI. We have seen case after case of AI really not knowing how to handle talking to kids, especially when it comes to inappropriate discussions," says Nester.
He said one of the things that his team is hoping to see is, in fact, for the federal government to step in and pass a federal safety bill of some kind. But until that happens, they do not want the Trump administration to undo the states' abilities to protect their own people.
