The White House has released a new plan for national artificial intelligence laws that aims to address child safety, economic growth, and free speech protections.
The Trump administration on March 20 urged Congress to give parents more control over their children’s online activities, saying families are best placed to manage minors’ digital lives.
Proposed steps include account settings to protect privacy and tools to track device use.
AI platforms accessible to minors should incorporate safeguards to reduce risks such as sexual exploitation or encouragement of self-harm, the White House said.
The statement, detailing the National AI Legislative Framework, said that AI growth should also benefit communities and small businesses by boosting the economy and increasing energy production.
The administration said electricity customers should not have to pay for the power used by data centers and urged lawmakers to simplify permitting so facilities can produce their own energy, which could also improve grid reliability.
The new framework also calls for stronger federal efforts to combat AI-driven fraud and manage national security risks associated with the technology.
“The Administration recognizes that some Americans feel uncertain about how this transformative technology will affect issues they care about, like their children’s wellbeing or their monthly electricity bill,” the statement said.
Intellectual Property, Free Speech
Another major focus is balancing protection for creators with the data needs of AI systems.The administration said creative works and identities should be protected in the age of AI, while also emphasizing that systems need access to available information to function effectively. Officials said they are considering an approach to address both goals, but did not provide details.
The White House said the government must protect First Amendment rights and ensure AI is not used to suppress lawful political expression.
“AI cannot become a vehicle for government to dictate right and wrong-think,” the statement said.
Single National Standard
A central element of the proposal is establishing uniform federal rules rather than allowing states to develop their own regulations. Officials warned that a “patchwork of conflicting state laws” could hinder innovation and weaken U.S. competitiveness.On Nov. 18, he wrote on social media that AI investment was “helping to make the U.S. Economy the ‘HOTTEST’ in the World,” but warned that state-level regulation could undermine growth.
Trump also alleged that some states were attempting to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts into AI models, though he did not identify specific jurisdictions or policies.
The policy push comes amid growing debate over AI’s impact on employment.
Goldman Sachs Research on March 18 said that about 300 million jobs worldwide could be exposed to automation over the next decade. It also predicted new job creation linked to AI expansion.
Joseph Briggs, who co-leads the firm’s global economics team, said AI is already affecting the tech sector, “where the employment share as a proportion of the whole economy has gone below the long term trend.”
Looking ahead, Briggs said AI could automate tasks that represent about 25 percent of all U.S. work hours. At the same time, analysts expect strong demand for infrastructure jobs needed to support data centers and electricity generation.
Beyond infrastructure, analysts anticipate AI will create new jobs, including technical roles and positions that apply the technology in fields such as health care.