Research

The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence technologies has prompted a familiar regulatory response: in the absence of a cohesive federal framework, states are rushing in to fill the void with a patchwork of local initiatives. But while some may argue that this patchwork is a noble fulfilment of federalism, the economics nonetheless argue for these state laws to be preempted and replaced with a single federal framework. We first looked at this problem back in 2008 when we published a paper entitled Developing a National Wireless Regulatory Framework: A Law and Economics Approach.

Efforts to regulate Artificial Intelligence at the state level are proliferating like mushrooms after it rains. Unfortunately, given the lack of a clear statement by Congress that the federal government can preempt such state AI laws, current legal options to stop the proliferation of state AI regulation are shaky at best.

Republicans and Democrats are now about equally likely to express concern over the increased use of artificial intelligence, but they differ widely in their trust in the United States to regulate the technology. Today, nearly identical shares of Republicans and Democrats say they are more concerned than excited about the increased use of AI in daily life—50 percent and 51 percent, respectively, according to a Pew Research Center survey of U.S. adults conducted in June.

Transparency about edtech products that incorporate AI can help school administrators select systems that will provide them with the functionality they need; ensure that those systems are suited for their contexts; identify potential risks and ways to mitigate them; and push the field at large toward improved development practices, outcomes, equity, and more.

Wi-Fi connectivity is a consumer expectation throughout the travel industry. There are any number of reasons for needing to be connected online on a cruise ship. Staying in touch with people back home directly (messaging, video calls) and sharing the experience via social media are a given. Staying up on things—sports, news—seemingly antithetical to the spirit of taking a cruise, is certainly welcome as well, including access to one’s on-shore streaming habits. Key takeaways on cruise ship connectivity:

Leaders across the United States share a common concern: how to ensure that workers have the skills they need to find quality jobs and that businesses have the talented workforce they need to thrive. In response, policymakers and education and workforce leaders have been exploring new ways for workers to demonstrate their competencies. One example is the growing adoption of “skills-based hiring”—an approach that prioritizes applicants’ skills, competencies, and experience over bachelor’s degree requirements.

For better or for worse, generative AI is already reshaping how work is done, who advances, and whose perspectives guide the next generation of tools. Generative AI tools deliver incredible efficiency gains. A study by The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that the majority of respondents who used generative AI tools in the past week saved between 2-4 hours with more frequent users reporting even greater time savings.

This issue brief describes the anticipated increased demand for the broadband workforce as a result of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program—and examines the primary barriers to the growth of that workforce. Key findings include:

Recent advances in technology have dramatically expanded the potential for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to meet global connectivity needs. Satellites in orbit have grown tenfold over the past decade. LEO systems can now deliver faster speeds and lower latency than previous generations, enabling services ranging from broadband internet and remote backhaul to sensing networks and enterprise Internet of Things. This report by the LEO Policy Working Group highlights three salient LEO issues for policymakers to address.

U.S. broadband speeds are on the uptick, and more users are getting better performance than ever from their broadband connectivity. However, there are still some states (particularly those with lower population density and vast terrain) that are struggling to deliver broadband services to their residents.