AI advocacy group launches state-level policy push

Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI), a nonprofit pushing for stronger AI guardrails, launched a new state-level initiative Thursday focused on advocating for AI policy across all 50 states.

The effort aims to promote policy addressing risks from leading-edge AI models, as well as threats to workers, kids and families.

“To succeed in passing the guardrails necessary to sustain AI innovation while protecting the public interest, the state arena can no longer be treated as a secondary front,” ARI President Brad Carson said in a statement.

“Industry actors understand this, which is why they are investing heavily and moving fast,” he continued.

The new initiative comes as major AI players increasingly turn their attention to state-level regulation .

OpenAI has focused more heavily on influencing the legislation coming out of statehouses in recent months. The company’s chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, is now touting the idea of “reverse federalism,” in which states help the country move toward a national standard on AI.

Meta is also reportedly planning to spend $65 million on boosting tech-friendly candidates in state races.

“A proactive state operation can help responsible legislators get ahead of industry campaigns, produce durable and constitutionally sound law, and demonstrate that the responsible AI community is a serious player in every arena where the future of AI governance is being decided,” Carson added Thursday.

Much of the AI industry was previously focused on pushing for preemption. As states like California and New York took the lead on regulation, they argued the federal government should block state AI measures to prevent a patchwork of laws.

They found an eager ally in the Trump administration, but several efforts to pass AI preemption through Congress fell short last year. President Trump ultimately signed an executive order in December taking aim at state laws, although there has been little movement on the issue since.