RTP's Fourth Branch Podcast Tech Roundup Episode 29 - An AI Roundup of 2025 and What Lies Ahead for 2026
Jan 13, 2026
Charlie Bullock, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Law & AI, and Neil Chilson, Head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, dive into the rapidly shifting landscape of AI policy. They discuss the contrasting approaches during the Trump and Biden administrations, highlighting significant state-level legislation and its implications. Bullock outlines motivations behind state lawmakers' actions while Chilson categorizes various state laws. The conversation also explores potential federal responses, upcoming local legislative battles, and the evolving role of political coalitions in shaping the future of AI regulation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Shift From Biden To Trump AI Approach
- The Biden AI executive order from 2023 was repealed early in 2025 and many of its reporting requirements are gone.
- Charlie Bullock highlights that state AI policy was nascent then but accelerated substantially during 2025.
Policy Pivot Toward AI Dominance
- The Trump administration pivoted AI policy from safety-first to an emphasis on U.S. dominance and innovation.
- Neil Chilson notes this directional change contrasts sharply with the prior administration's focus on safety guardrails.
AI Is Not Yet A Mass Voter Issue
- Libby Dickinson jokes there are few 'AI voters' and that the issue isn't top-tier for most Americans.
- She uses Axios coverage and the odd 'LaBubu' story to show AI's relative public salience in 2025.