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Trump signs AI executive order, triggering federal and state regulatory conflicts
On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice to challenge state laws in the field of artificial intelligence, especially those enacted independently in the absence of federal regulation. The order establishes an Artificial Intelligence Litigation Working Group, emphasizes federal priority, and may question state laws on the grounds of interstate trade protection, with Colorado’s “Algorithm Discrimination” bill becoming a key focus.
In the order, Trump stated that a unified national standard is more conducive to innovation than 50 individual state approaches, claiming that excessive state regulation hampers the development of American AI companies. However, the order was immediately criticized by labor groups, technology policy organizations, and AI researchers, who argued that it sidesteps the potential risks of AI systems and favors the interests of large tech companies. The United Food and Commercial Workers Union pointed out that the order threatens state government rights and may undermine workers’ jobs and rights. AI expert Gary Marcus warned that the order could make Trump himself responsible for economic or social risks related to AI.