As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly becomes a part of daily life, the U.S. government has struggled to keep up with legislation to address its potential harms and benefits. Despite dozens of AI-related bills being introduced in Congress in 2024, most have been stalled due to partisan gridlock or buried under other legislative priorities.
In California, a bill aiming to hold AI companies accountable for harmful outcomes passed the state legislature but was ultimately vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. This inaction has sparked concern among AI skeptics who fear the U.S. is repeating past mistakes seen with privacy and social media regulations. “We’re seeing a replication of what we’ve seen in privacy and social media: not setting up guardrails from the start,” warned Ben Winters, director of AI and data privacy at the Consumer Federation of America.
On the other hand, industry advocates have successfully convinced policymakers that heavy regulation could stifle innovation, leading to a more piecemeal approach to AI lawmaking in the U.S. Unlike the European Union’s comprehensive AI Act passed in 2023, the U.S. may tackle specific AI-related issues individually.
One of the most pressing concerns Congress may address in 2025 is the use of AI in creating non-consensual deepfake pornography. This year, AI tools enabled the creation and rapid spread of explicit images, often used for extortion. Despite bipartisan support for legislation to curb these harmful practices, bills like the Take It Down Act, which would criminalize the creation of deepfake porn and require its removal from social media within 48 hours, stalled in the legislative process. The inclusion of this bill in a House funding proposal last week, however, shows growing consensus on the issue.
Other potential areas for legislation include AI’s impact on consumer data privacy and the dangers posed by AI-driven chatbots, which have been linked to instances of self-harm. However, the difficulty of passing even the deepfake legislation signals the challenges lawmakers will face in tackling broader AI concerns.
At the same time, many legislators are prioritizing increased funding for AI research, framing it as an essential part of the U.S.’s global competitiveness. A recent report from the Bipartisan House AI Task Force called for greater investment in AI infrastructure to support innovation, while some members of Congress are also exploring the integration of AI into defense and military systems, including partnerships with companies like Anduril.
Looking ahead to 2025, key figures like Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota, who will become Senate Majority Leader, are expected to play a major role in shaping AI policy. Thune has expressed support for a balanced approach to AI regulation, focusing on transparency and addressing high-risk applications. However, with the U.S. still struggling to create a unified framework, states may lead the way in AI legislation. States like Colorado, New York, and Texas are already introducing their own bills to regulate AI’s use in areas such as employment and energy consumption, potentially paving the way for broader national action in the future.