Texas is wading cautiously into the wild, wild, west of artificial intelligence (AI). The state's select committee on AI and emerging technology began meeting this year to find ways to harness AI, but protect privacy and avoid overreach that could stifle innovation. Texas has yet to pass any legislation regulating AI, instead using the select committee and an advisory council approved by last year's legislative session to hear from experts and stakeholders. The goal is to have meaningful AI legislation in next year's session, after a thoughtful and deliberative process.
This approach by Texas stands in stark contrast to other states like California, which rushed to pass a massive AI bill that is filled with heavy regulations and woke mandates. "States like California want to move fast and break things," says David Dunmoyer, Director of the Better Tech Campaign at the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF). "California is regulating DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) into their AI systems."
Dunmoyer warns this "woke-AI" is what leads to things like Google's Gemini program, which refused to produce images of white people even when asked to do so. "It's all about what information or data is training these models," he tells KTRH. "So a big part is making sure the information that is training these systems is reflective of truth, and that's something that Texas will promote."
This more balanced, careful approach to AI will help keep Texas at the forefront of the high tech industry and promote economic growth, according to Dunmoyer. He also believes it could be a blueprint for the rest of the country in dealing with AI. "Texas is balancing the desire to lead the nation in innovation and tech development, while also ensuring that humanity is protected, and that's a really hard balance to get right," he says.
"Texas wants to promote freedom, liberty, personal responsibility, while still ensuring that we're not regulating AI and emerging tech out of existence."