Scaling Laws The AI Moratorium Goes Down in Flames
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Jul 2, 2025 
Adam Thierer, a senior fellow at the R Street Institute, and Helen Toner, director at Georgetown's CSET, delve into the recent Senate defeat of a proposed AI regulation moratorium. They discuss the complexities of legislative maneuvers, the fragmentation within the Republican party on tech policy, and the implications for future AI governance. The duo emphasizes the need for a coherent national dialogue on AI regulations while balancing innovation with safety, drawing parallels to past regulatory challenges.
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AI Moratorium's Dramatic Failure
- The AI moratorium was a proposed federal pause on state AI regulations linked to funding conditions.
- It failed spectacularly in the Senate due to political and procedural complications, showing deep national divide.
Confusing Funding Tied to Moratorium
- The moratorium's linkage to broadband funding introduced confusion about how much money states could lose.
- Poorly drafted language raised concerns and likely contributed to the proposal's failure.
Right-Wing Divide on AI Policy
- The conservative movement is deeply divided over AI and tech policy, split between a pro-innovation tech right and a populist, skeptical right.
- This internal battle influenced the moratorium's downfall and defines future AI governance challenges.