Question Brief – 1/23/26

January 23rd, 2026

Question: What role should the federal government play in regulating artificial intelligence development?

Thought Process:

As AI integration reaches a critical mass in 2026, the debate has shifted from if the government should intervene to how it should do so. While the private sector drives innovation, the federal government faces pressure to mitigate growing risks. The challenge lies in crafting a framework that ensures public safety and ethical standards without stifling the competitive edge of domestic tech industries.

1. Safety & Accountability Standards
   1. Federal agencies should require rigorous pre-deployment testing for high-risk AI models, particularly those affecting critical infrastructure, healthcare, and criminal justice. Many of these models today face little to no regulatory oversight, making accountability limited.
   2. Establishing clear legal frameworks is needed to determine liability when AI systems cause harm, ensuring that developers are held responsible for the integrity of their products.
   3. By setting a national floor for safety, the government prevents an environment where speed is prioritized over stability, thereby building the public trust necessary for long-term AI adoption.
2. Artificial Intelligence Through the Lens of Public Interest
   1. The government doesn’t facilitate substantial initiatives to provide academic researchers and startups with the compute power and data needed to compete with “Big Tech”, and the growing market domination we see in AI today.
   2. Federal funding and legislative support should be directed toward positive impact projects—such as climate modeling, personalized medicine, and educational tools—that might be underfunded by the private sector due to lower immediate profit margins.
   3. This proactive role ensures that the direction of AI progress aligns with national priorities and democratic values, preventing a total monopolization of the technology.
3. Establishing Global Position
   1. The U.S. is winning the global AI innovation race, but a race towards dominance puts the highly unregulated market out of the reach of government, conflicting with broader government interests and potential future priorities.
   2. By working with allies, he federal government can create a stronger, and unified regulatory environment that allows for the seamless flow of data and innovation while maintaining high ethical standards.
   3. Strong federal leadership on the world stage ensures that the global evolution of AI reflects a commitment to  principles, protecting from unregulated uses and disruptions.