Driving the Day

Today is February 19, 2025, and here are the key policymaker and stakeholder actions on AI you need to know: In Washington, the Commerce Department is planning to terminate 500 staffers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which could include employees focused on semiconductor investments and those working at the U.S. AI Safety Institute. In Utah, the legislature is considering a bill that would require police to include disclaimers in any report written with the help of AI. Across the pond, a center-right member of the EU parliament who helped draft the EU’s copyright law warned the AI Act leaves creative industry workers unprotected.

In this issue:

• Washington in Focus: A senior Elon Musk staffer developed an AI chatbot, powered by xAI, to assist the Department of Government Efficiency.

• Around the Nation: A St. Thomas University Law School professor discussed how the New York AI Consumer Protection Bill “puts process over substance.”

• Across the Pond: The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change published a report with recommendations for “putting the UK at the forefront of AI-enabled scientific discovery.”

• Global Highlights: The R Street Institute recommended how both American political parties should respond to the rise of DeepSeek.

• Outside Views: A think tank researcher discussed the culpability of companies when role-playing chatbots allegedly harm minors.

Read these stories and more below: