By Brendan Steinhauser
As if Silicon Valley didn’t have enough power over the lives of Wisconsinites, big tech CEOs are coming for more. In Washington, D.C., and state capitals, the fight over AI is spreading across America.
Wisconsin is not immune from a Big Tech takeover. Technology companies like Meta and OpenAI want a free pass from safeguards at the state level, allowing them to promote advanced AI without safeguards.
It is called “federal preemption,” a concept that allows the federal government to prevent state lawmakers from enacting legislation that affects AI development and deployment. The Trump administration recently released its federal framework for AI, which includes federal preemption — much to the delight of Big Tech CEOs who wish to avoid any and all scrutiny from the American people.
Like everyday Wisconsinites, there are state lawmakers in Madison who recognize advanced AI’s societal risks. Most Americans have deep concerns about AI. Over 70% of Americans worry that AI will put too many people out of work permanently. Indeed, we are already seeing tens of thousands of AI-linked job losses in the United States, and the technology is only in its infancy.
Silicon Valley’s approval rating is only dropping. Three-quarters of Americans are critical of Big Tech CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg or Sam Altman, which is why AI is one of the least popular phenomena in America. That’s saying something in a deeply divided country, and for good reason. In a landmark case, Meta and YouTube were recently found liable for negligence in the design and operation of their social media platforms, which are linked to addiction among teenagers and other Americans.
Now, Big Tech CEOs are developing the most powerful technology in human history (something that they openly admit). And they want us to ask zero questions?
Not only are frontier AI companies spending untold billions of dollars on AI development and deployment, but they are also pouring tens of millions in federal and state races to oppose AI safeguards and target those who dare to speak out — both Republicans and Democrats. And they have an ally in former White House “AI czar” David Sacks, who vilifies Silicon Valley’s critics on behalf of his Big Tech allies.
Federal preemption is not democracy. The executive branch does not have the power to overturn state laws. We do not live in a monarchy. What’s more, states are naturally more responsive to their citizens than DC. In a federalist system, the states are laboratories of democracy, where new policies and reforms are tested for the greater good. States like Wisconsin have every right to address AI development and deployment, ensuring that Silicon Valley elites serve the best interests of Wisconsinites.
Federal preemption would undermine protections for children, families and entire communities by stripping states of their ability to respond to AI harms — from chatbot-related teen suicide to mass job loss. Most Americans — Democrats, Republicans and independents — agree on that fact. Again, that is saying something in a country where bipartisanship is rare. Secure, safe AI is our most unifying issue, even if Big Tech disagrees.
Supporting effective safeguards is not anti-AI. Nor will protecting Wisconsin somehow lose America the “AI race” against China and other foreign adversaries. Two things can be true: We need AI on our side, and we need to hold Silicon Valley accountable.
In Wisconsin, parents, workers and other concerned citizens should speak out against AI without safeguards. People should contact their elected officials, who should listen to everyday Wisconsinites instead of Big Tech CEOs. Ours might be a David versus Goliath fight, but even Silicon Valley’s deep coffers can’t compete with the voice of the people.
Let’s hold the line. We must oppose Big Tech’s power grab in the form of preemption of state AI laws.