By Paul DeMarco
With the advent of December, we are getting closer to year end and 2025 is around the corner. The new year means the upcoming Alabama legislative session is also fast approaching with the talk of what bills will be taken up.
Paul DeMarco
If you look around the country, what is getting the most attention from lawmakers is the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). This is the next level of computing with the almost immediate search of infinite databases to generate requested content which is the next frontier of technology.
There is discussion at both the national and state level focusing on what AI means to both business and government operations. This past year, in state capitol buildings around the country there were almost 700 bills introduced, of which 113 were enacted into law.
In 2024, the Alabama Legislature passed a new law that would prohibit the creation of artificially generated images of an individual without their consent. A second bill that became law banned the creation of digitally created child pornography. Finally, Alabama State representatives and senators enacted a bill to prohibit AI produced materially deceptive materials for political campaigns.
From sales to marketing to logistics to risk management, AI is being incorporated into every aspect of life. Both individuals and businesses need to watch how government leaders are going to regulate the new technology.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey established by executive order a task force on generative artificial intelligence earlier this year to provide recommendations on state government operations. The commission is set to provide a final report on policies and procedures that should be adopted for the use by state agencies by the end of this week on November 30th.
We can expect more legislation at both the federal and state level next year to address the future of artificial intelligence in Alabama.
Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on X, formerly Twitter, at @Paul_DeMarco
