By Matt Underwood New York Signs AI Safety Bill Into Law, Ignoring Trump Executive Order is a really interesting development, and it’s got me thinking. It seems New York is making a clear statement here. Executive orders, at least in this case, are essentially just…suggestions. They carry no weight over state laws. It’s like, you can’t tell the states what to do; they have their own power.
It’s pretty satisfying, in a way, to see Trump’s pronouncements not hold sway. He can huff and puff all he wants, but New York’s new AI safety bill is going into effect regardless. It is a clear act of defiance, and it is satisfying. This whole situation is a good illustration of the checks and balances in our system, where states can choose to operate independently.
The core of the matter seems to be AI safety itself. The new law in New York is focusing on that, and some seem to think the federal government isn’t stepping up to the plate. If the feds won’t address AI safety concerns, the states will. It makes sense, in a way. If there’s a need for regulation, and no action is taken at the federal level, it falls to the states to pick up the slack.
I do wonder, though, how practical it is to have individual state regulations. It’s easy to imagine a scenario where we have a patchwork of laws across the country. It could lead to confusion and inconsistencies. But maybe that’s the point. It can create chaos in the tech industry. It could push these companies to lobby for a unified federal approach.
The article highlights a key detail about the bill, emphasizing the focus on safety. Specifically, the provision requires companies to report safety incidents. The states are stepping up where the feds are failing and ensuring that AI companies are responsible.
Of course, a lot of people are pointing out that executive orders are not laws, so this is really a non-issue. An executive order isn’t some magic spell that can override the Constitution. It’s more like a memo, a directive to federal agencies, and has no legal authority over states or their laws.
There’s some cynicism, too. Some people are saying the New York bill is a watered-down version of what it could be, that it may be toothless. The only penalty is a fine for companies with revenues over $500M. The bill, it seems, has to walk a delicate line. It can’t go too far, or risk pushing AI companies out of the state.
There’s also a sentiment that New York is basically saying, “We don’t care what he says,” which is understandable. The federal government, under a particular administration, isn’t allowed to overreach its authority and override the states.
Ultimately, this situation is a complex mix of legal maneuvering, political posturing, and the ongoing debate over how to best regulate the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. It’s a clear statement: New York isn’t waiting around for the feds to act. They’re going to take matters into their own hands.