Anthropic CEO says proposed 10-year ban on state AI regulation 'too blunt' in NYT op-ed

Debate Intensifies Over AI Oversight Amid "Blunt" Federal Proposal

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has raised concerns about a new Republican-backed federal proposal that would forbid individual U.S. states from imposing their own artificial intelligence regulations for a decade. Writing in a recent New York Times op-ed, Amodei described the bill as "too blunt," warning that such sweeping measures could stifle valuable state-level initiatives and experimentation designed to address the rapidly evolving risks and impacts of AI technologies[3][5].

A Call for Nuanced Governance

Amodei, whose company Anthropic is known for leading AI models like Claude 4, argued that while consistent federal rules are needed, an outright 10-year ban would hamper states’ ability to respond flexibly to new challenges. In his view, states have historically played a crucial role in consumer protection and innovation, and such a lengthy freeze could lock in unintended negative consequences[3][5].

Proposal Details and Growing Industry Pushback

- The proposed legislation, if enacted, would bar states from enacting or enforcing laws that regulate AI for 10 years, centralizing authority with the federal government. - Backers of the bill argue it would prevent a confusing patchwork of state laws on AI, allowing the technology to flourish under unified national guidelines. - Critics like Amodei warn this approach could overlook emergent risks and prevent needed oversight in areas such as privacy, job market disruption, or sector-specific harms.

Anthropic’s Perspective on AI Regulation

Amodei reiterated Anthropic’s willingness to work with both federal and state policymakers to craft flexible, adaptive rules that evolve with technological advances. He previously sounded alarms over the dangers posed by advanced AI, including the potential to eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within just five years[1]. Despite the risks, he maintains an optimistic outlook on utilizing AI responsibly, having recently showcased the company's new models, including Claude 4[2].

What’s Next?

As Congress prepares to debate the sweeping regulatory proposal, leading voices in tech like Amodei are urging lawmakers to balance unified standards with the traditional U.S. innovation dynamic, which often relies on states as regulatory "laboratories." The outcome could significantly shape how AI is managed and adopted across America, influencing everything from job markets to the ethical boundaries around cutting-edge tools like ChatGPT and Claude.

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