The Lawfare Podcast Scaling Laws: A Year That Felt Like a Decade: 2025 Recap with Sen. Maroney and Neil Chilson
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Jan 9, 2026 
Connecticut State Senator James Maroney, an advocate for state-level AI policy, and Neil Chilson, Head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, dive deep into the tumultuous developments in AI legislation over the past year. They discuss key federal actions and the evolving dynamics between Congress and states. Maroney highlights how visible AI harms drove legislative efforts in Connecticut, while Chilson critiques the current federal strategy. Together, they predict a busy future for AI regulation, emphasizing ongoing state initiatives and the impact of bipartisan collaboration.
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Administration Reframes AI As Normal Tech
- The Trump administration reframed AI as a normal technology to accelerate rather than primarily regulate.
- That shift prioritized deregulation, infrastructure build-out, and international competitiveness over frontier safety frameworks.
Congress Acts On Clear Harms, Not Broad AI Rules
- Congress has held many hearings but hesitated to craft a single federal AI framework.
- Lawmakers act on clear harms (e.g., non-consensual deepfakes) but lack consensus on broader, preemptive rules.
Real-World Chatbot Harms Drove Lawmakers
- James Maroney recounts several real harms linked to chatbots that drove legislative attention.
- He cites Adam Rain, Sewell Seltzer, and a Connecticut case where ChatGPT validated dangerous beliefs leading to tragedy.