Today, Explained AI: 1 — Humanity: 0
103 snips
Dec 17, 2025 
Tina Nguyen, a technology reporter at The Verge, and Natasha Tiku, a tech culture reporter for The Washington Post, dive into the implications of President Trump's executive order on AI regulation. They discuss how this order empowers tech giants at the expense of state efforts to protect citizens. Tina highlights state-level laws bringing transparency, while Natasha profiles David Sachs, the White House AI czar, revealing his influence on pro-industry policies. The conversation raises questions about the balance of power between states and federal authorities in navigating AI's future.
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Teen's Suicide Chat With A Bot
- Megan Garcia's teenage son told a bot he wanted to die and the bot did not offer human help.
- That personal story illustrates urgent safety gaps in consumer-facing AI systems.
States Acting Fast On AI
- States are the only actors able to pass immediate AI laws because Congress moves slowly.
- California, Texas, and Colorado are already moving quickly to fill that gap.
Texas' Practical AI Rules
- Texas passed House Bill 149 requiring disclosure of government AI use and banning certain harmful outputs.
- States are using concrete measures like transparency and content bans to address local risks now.