Scaling Laws

Connecticut State Senator James Maroney and Neil Chilson, Head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, join Kevin Frazier, the AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law and a Senior Editor at Lawfare, and Alan Rozenstein, Associate Professor at Minnesota Law and Research Director at Lawfare, for a look back at a wild year in AI policy. Neil provides his expert analysis of all that did (and did not) happen at the federal level. Senator Maroney then examines what transpired across the states. The four then offer their predictions for what seems likely to be an even busier 2026.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard and a legal scholar, dives deep into AI’s capabilities and limitations. He discusses when to trust algorithms over human judgment and highlights the distinction between noise reduction and bias in decision-making. Sunstein emphasizes the implications of AI in fields like medicine and law, and addresses how biased training data can skew outcomes. He also explores the unpredictability of social phenomena, advocating for careful consideration of when to delegate decisions to AI.

Renée DiResta, Lawfare contributing editor and associate research professor at Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy, and Alan Z. Rozenshtein, Lawfare senior editor and associate professor of law the University of Minnesota, spoke with Jacob Mchangama, research professor of political science at Vanderbilt University and founder of The Future of Free Speech, and Jacob Shapiro, the John Foster Dulles Professor of International Affairs at Princeton University. The conversation covered the findings of a new report examining how AI models handle contested speech; comparative free speech regulations across six jurisdictions; empirical testing of how major chatbots respond to politically sensitive prompts; and the tension between free expression principles and concerns about manipulation in AI systems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this rapid response episode, Lawfare senior editors Alan Rozenshtein and Kevin Frazier and Lawfare Tarbell fellow Jakub Kraus discuss President Trump's new executive order on federal preemption of state AI laws, the politics of AI regulation and the split between Silicon Valley Republicans and MAGA populists, and the administration's decision to allow Nvidia to export H200 chips to China.  Mentioned in this episode:Executive Order: Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial IntelligenceCharlie Bullock, "Legal Issues Raised by the Proposed Executive Order on AI Preemption," Institute for Law & AI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Dufault, General Counsel at ACT | The App Association, advocates for small tech companies navigating the complex EU AI laws. He discusses a significant survey revealing that many SMEs face delays and client losses attributed to regulatory impacts. Dufault highlights the widespread AI adoption among these businesses and emphasizes their demand for clear rules over excessive precaution. He also calls for a flexible U.S. transparency framework to aid compliance and enhance collaboration between lawmakers and local startups.

Caleb Withers, a research associate at the Center for a New American Security, dives into the impact of AI on cybersecurity. He discusses how frontier models shift the advantage to attackers, increasing both the scale and sophistication of cyber threats. Withers highlights persistent vulnerabilities in software and emphasizes AI's dual role in secure coding—both as a source of risk and a tool for detection. Additionally, he explores the urgent need for policy attention and industry responses to tackle the evolving landscape of AI-enhanced cyber warfare.

Andrew Prystai, CEO of Vesta, and Thomas Bueler-Faudree, co-founder of August Law, delve into AI policy from a startup’s perspective. They discuss how Vesta uses AI for marketing event organization while August Law automates legal processes. The duo highlights the challenges startups face under regulatory pressure, including compliance burdens and the impact of local laws like New York's RAISE Act. They also emphasize AI's potential to transform jobs and advise founders to focus on product velocity and innovation.

Jeff Bleich, General Counsel at Anthropic and former U.S. Ambassador, dives into the legal intricacies of AI with host Kevin Frazier. He discusses how his background in autonomous vehicles shaped his insights into AI governance. Bleich emphasizes the need for tech optimism, arguing that responsible use of AI can enhance lives. He touches on the role of democracy in managing innovation, public skepticism toward new technologies, and how law students should embrace AI to stay ahead in their careers.

In a fascinating discussion, Nathan Goldschlag, a director at the Economic Innovation Group, Bharat Chander from Stanford, and Anton Korinek, a UVA professor, dive into the transformative impact of AI on jobs and the economy. They explore the nuances of augmentation versus automation, the complexities behind large layoffs, and the need for better data on AI adoption. The trio emphasizes scenario planning for future developments, critiques misguided policy approaches, and offers advice for students navigating the evolving job landscape amid AI advancements.

Gabriel Nicholas, a member of the Product Public Policy team at Anthropic, joins Kevin Frazier, AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law and a Senior Editor at Lawfare, to introduce the policy problems (and some solutions) posed by AI agents. Defined as AI tools capable of autonomously completing tasks on your behalf, it’s widely expected that AI agents will soon become ubiquitous. The integration of AI agents into sensitive tasks presents a slew of technical, social, economic, and political questions. Gabriel walks through the weighty questions that labs are thinking through as AI agents finally become “a thing.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.