To beat China on AI, we must block mishmash of state rules on development | Opinion
Like other conservatives, I believe deeply in the principle of states’ rights. Local governments know their communities best and are often more accountable than far-off bureaucrats in Washington. However, while I trust my home state of Texas more than DC, even strong principles have exceptions. Some issues are too big, too fast-moving, and too vital for a piecemeal approach, and artificial intelligence is one of them.
AI is unlike any other technology we have seen before. It has the potential to be the backbone of our national security, economic leadership and technological competitiveness. It cuts across sectors like healthcare, defense and infrastructure. It also doesn’t respect state lines, which is exactly why we cannot afford 50 different state laws pulling AI development in 50 different directions.
This issue was considered as part of the “Big Beautiful Bill” of Republican priorities that the Senate approved Tuesday, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz’s push to include a moratorium on state-based AI regulations is the right approach.
The conservative instinct is to push back against federal overreach, and while that instinct is often correct, there’s a difference between government control and government coordination. In the case of AI, what we need is consistency — federal guidance that gives innovators clear, uniform standards to build around, instead of working around a regulatory minefield.
A fragmented approach to AI will slow innovation and send it elsewhere. While we’re arguing over what’s allowed in Austin versus Sacramento, China is building a vertically integrated AI economy under one set of national rules, with no concern for privacy, ethics or transparency.
If the United States loses the AI race, we lose much more than market share. We lose the ability to defend ourselves, protect our data, and shape global standards that will govern everything from cybersecurity to biotech.
This is already a priority at the highest levels of government. In April, senior leaders from the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and national security agencies made clear during a panel discussion that AI is rapidly becoming essential to our country’s defense posture.
From improving military decision-making to guarding against espionage and cyberattacks, AI is being woven into daily operations to keep our country safe. As threats evolve, adversaries are already using AI to target critical infrastructure and sensitive technology. We can’t afford to slow this momentum with a state-by-state regulatory patchwork. Just as we don’t let each state set its own military strategy, we shouldn’t let them go it alone on a technology this consequential.
Federal oversight doesn’t have to mean overregulation. Done right, it should mean smart rules that protect consumers, encourage responsible development and give businesses the certainty they need to invest. It should mean protecting against real harms, like deepfakes, data misuse, and algorithmic discrimination — without strangling the next generation of American innovation.
We have seen what happens when government moves too slowly. Our energy infrastructure is already straining to support the large amounts of power that servers running AI applications need. Permitting delays and gridlock (literally and figuratively) are holding us back. We can’t afford to make the same mistake with policy.
If handled wisely, AI can drive freedom, prosperity and strength. However, it will only work if we give it the foundation it needs to thrive, and that starts with consistent national rules.
Conservatives should see clearly that this is the exception that proves the rule. Federal leadership on AI is about smarter government, and in this rare case, it is essential to our nation’s future.
