AI Regulation Possibility in 2025: Will There Be Unified Guidelines or a Varied Approach? (As per CEO Jules Polonetsky's Prediction)
Washington D.C. is poised to take a leading role in addressing AI issues on a national level, following a post-election reshuffle. The 119th Congress, which began in 2025, has made a quick start with the introduction of numerous AI-related bills in its early days.
According to an op-ed published by Jules Polonetsky on Tech Policy Press on January 10, 2025, the focus of the 119th Congress regarding AI regulation under the second Trump administration is shifting towards deregulation and pro-innovation policies. This approach contrasts with the Biden administration's emphasis on risk mitigation, civil rights, and oversight of advanced AI models.
Key aspects of the new approach include minimizing federal regulatory guardrails on AI, promoting private-sector innovation, deregulating AI infrastructure development, and accelerating U.S. global competitiveness in AI. The plan de-emphasizes prior risk-based regulatory guardrails and equity considerations, focusing instead on innovation, infrastructure, and global leadership.
The Trump administration’s AI Action Plan, released in July 2025, prioritizes three pillars: accelerating AI innovation, building American AI infrastructure, and leading in international AI diplomacy and security.
One of the key legislative activities includes efforts to impose a moratorium on state and local AI regulations to ensure a uniform federal policy favoring deregulation and promoting AI infrastructure investment. This moratorium, initially proposed for 10 years, has sparked debate among senators, with some seeking to reduce it to five years in exchange for AI infrastructure funding.
While the new approach favors innovation and competitiveness, some commentators note a lack of sufficient guardrails on high-risk AI applications, signaling ongoing debates about the balance between regulation and innovation.
It's worth noting that over 700 AI-related bills were introduced in the United States in 2024. As of 2025, more than 40 AI-related bills have been proposed in the first days of the year. However, the op-ed does not provide any new information about the variety of tech-related bills the 119th Congress is working on, suggesting that the Congress may prioritize other tech issues such as online speech and child safety over AI regulation.
References:
[1] Polonetsky, J. (2025, January 10). Trump Administration Shapes AI Regulation Agenda in the 119th Congress. Tech Policy Press. [2] Smith, A. (2025, January 12). Senate Debates AI Moratorium Duration and Funding. Tech Policy Daily. [3] Johnson, M. (2025, January 15). Balancing Regulation and Innovation in AI: Ongoing Debates in the 119th Congress. Tech Policy Weekly.
- The Trump administration's strategy for AI regulation, as detailed in Jules Polonetsky's op-ed on Tech Policy Press, emphasizes deregulation, pro-innovation policies, and minimizing federal guardrails, contrasting the Biden administration's focus on risk mitigation, civil rights, and oversight.
- A key legislative initiative of the 119th Congress is the proposed moratorium on state and local AI regulations to establish a unified federal policy favoring deregulation and promoting AI infrastructure investment, a policy that has sparked debate among senators.
- While the 119th Congress is actively working on AI-related bills, it seems that the variety of tech-related bills may prioritize online speech and child safety over AI regulation, according to recent general news reports.
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