Microsoft's Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Eric Horvitz, has expressed concerns over former President Donald Trump's proposal to ban US states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next decade. Horvitz warned that this deregulation strategy would "hold us back" and pose serious risks to scientific progress and public safety.
The proposal, included in a spending package, aims to restrict local governments from enacting AI-specific laws until at least 2035. Despite Horvitz's comments, Microsoft is reportedly backing the deregulation bill through an aggressive lobbying campaign, alongside other tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon.
Critics argue that the ban would stifle innovation, erode public trust, and leave vulnerable communities unprotected from AI-driven harms. Experts, including Stuart Russell from the University of California, Berkeley, have called the proposed moratorium "reckless," citing potential existential risks associated with advanced AI systems.
Trump's allies argue that the ban is necessary to maintain the US's competitive edge in AI, particularly against China. However, Horvitz and others emphasize the importance of balancing innovation with safety and responsibility. As the debate surrounding AI regulation continues, it's clear that finding a balance between progress and protection will be crucial to ensuring the benefits of AI are realized while minimizing its risks.
