AI regulation faces political deadlock

AI regulation faces political deadlock as calls grow for Congress to act

With Trump opposed and Congress divided, new safety legislation on AI is unlikely to pass anytime soon despite mounting pressure.

Senior Democrats in Congress are pushing for more time to address AI safety, citing the complexity of the issue and the need for a comprehensive approach.

A group of House Democrats has called for Congress to be given more time to debate the issue, arguing that it is essential to protect the safety and wellbeing of the American people.

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When President Donald Trump responded to mounting calls for a slowdown in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) on Monday, he was unequivocal.

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Trump's view, unsurprisingly, is not shared by senior Democrats in Congress. It is also opposed by leading figures in the AI sector, who have in recent days issued stark safety warnings and made the case for government regulation.

In the US, however, new safety legislation on AI is unlikely anytime soon.

Any bill would have to pass in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to become law. Trump's staunch opposition to new guardrails on AI means the Republican Party, which has a majority in both chambers, is unlikely to break from him and back restrictions or government controls.

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Beyond this, a more immediate obstacle to any movement in Congress is the clock.

The House is set to enter recess at the end of the week until after the midterm elections in early November. Some leading Democrats are calling for that recess to be delayed until AI safeguards can be passed in the chamber.

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"Congress should not leave town until something is done decisively to protect the safety and wellbeing of the American people," Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters on Monday.

A group of House Democrats calling for Congress to be given more time to debate the issue have also written a letter to Republican Speaker Mike Johnson, who would ultimately decide on delaying the recess.

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"Reasonable minds may disagree about precisely how Congress should regulate this rapidly evolving technology," the group said. “We cannot disagree about the imperative for Congress to act.”

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Over the weekend, Republican congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna suggested on X that “ongress SHOULD convene a