Key deadlines set out in President Trump's executive order targeting state AI laws have passed, with agencies failing to deliver on major steps that were due more than a month ago. The missed deadlines are raising doubts about how forcefully the administration can follow through on its push to rein in states on AI regulation.
Three provisions that were due on March 11 per the December order have not been completed or publicly announced, according to Axios. The Federal Trade Commission was supposed to issue guidance on how consumer protection law applies to AI models, including when it could override state laws that "alter their truthful outputs."
The Commerce Department was due to review and publish an evaluation of state AI laws and flag "onerous" ones that conflict with federal policy to the Justice Department's AI Litigation Task Force. Commerce was also ordered to set rules tying broadband funding to state AI laws, potentially cutting off funds to states with certain regulations.
The Federal Communications Commission is also tasked with considering whether to create a national AI reporting and transparency standard that would preempt conflicting state laws. The delays suggest potential challenges in coordinating federal AI policy across multiple agencies.
Critics may argue that the deadlines were overly ambitious given the complexity of AI regulation, and that thorough deliberation is preferable to rushed implementation. The administration has not publicly explained the delays.