Axios Event: Safety and innovation need to be balanced in AI governance

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration's move to streamline the federal government is causing uncertainty over its impact on regulating generative AI, policymakers and tech industry leaders said at an Axios event.

Why it matters: Generative AI is transforming the workplace at a rapid pace, with no clear regulatory path yet established to ensure both innovation and safety.

Axios' Ashley Gold and Maria Curi spoke with Workday head of U.S. public policy John Sampson, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Zoom head of global public policy and government relations Josh Kallmer, and Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) at a Feb. 27 event sponsored by TechNet.

State of play: JD Vance's recent comments indicated the new administration may shift priorities to "pro-growth AI policies" from the BIden administration's focus on AI safety regulations.

What they're saying: "We believe that fundamentally, [AI] will change the nature of what it means to be a human at work," said Sampson, whose work primarily focuses on helping policymakers better understand how AI innovation can help U.S. competitiveness.

• "There is a role for smart, measured, proportionate regulation, but we want [policymakers] to understand the competitive potential, the geopolitical aspects of it," he said.
• Kallmer added, "The key though … is that we're a partner to governments and we're listening to them."

One concern is that there is not yet a clear plan for AI policy moving forward and there's growing uncertainty from reports of expected workforce cuts at the AI Safety Institute, Lieu pointed out.

• "There's bipartisan support for the U.S. AI Safety Institute," Lieu said. "Unfortunately the current administration is getting rid of it, and I think that is bad for America and it's bad for the world."

Yes, but: "We've got to get through reconciliation, we've got to get through our appropriations," Houchin said.

• "After we get through that process, I think [Congress] will turn to AI and data privacy."

Sponsored content:

In a View From the Top sponsored segment, Amazon Robotics' director of global manufacturing and technical operations Erika McClosky explained how AI is making their fleet of robots smarter.

• "In my 20-plus year history in manufacturing, I have never seen innovation evolving as quickly," McClosky said.
• "Robots are starting to be able to do a lot of different types of tasks, and they can now work alongside humans."