<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/josh-shapiro/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gov. Josh Shapiro</a> (D-PA) addressed the need for stronger regulations on <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/artificial-intelligence/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">artificial intelligence</a> during a speech at the <a href="https://aihorizonspgh.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AI Horizons Conference</a> in Pittsburgh on Thursday. He expressed concerns that the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/trump-administration/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Trump administration</a> is not adequately establishing safeguards for rapidly advancing technology.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Shapiro called for federal regulation of AI, independent oversight of powerful models, and international collaboration with China to create “practical guardrails to reduce risks to the American people.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He urged that AI safety should be a topic of discussion during President Trump’s meeting with Chinese President <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/xi-jinping/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Xi Jinping</a>, rather than focusing solely on technological competition.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“It’s time for the Trump administration to stop alienating our allies, starting wars that destabilize our world, and damaging our credibility in foreign capitals,” Shapiro stated. “And start leading the conversation on how we can mobilize countries around the world to join us in responsibly regulating AI.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Shapiro, who is viewed as a potential candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, emphasized that he is not advocating for a halt to AI development, but rather for federal rules that require independent third-party oversight, transparency, and safety measures before widespread deployment.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Unfortunately, too many companies aren’t using these technologies ethically or responsibly,” Shapiro said. He cited his administration’s lawsuit against Character.AI, which followed an investigation revealing that AI chatbot characters misrepresented themselves as licensed medical professionals.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Within just a few minutes, our investigators … were connected with a chatbot, who went by the name of Emilie, who claimed to be an expert in psychology or psychiatry and quickly dispensed medical advice,” Shapiro explained. “The chatbot even produced a bogus medical license number in Pennsylvania, presenting itself as a licensed medical provider. That is against the law — and my administration sued Character.AI to stop it.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Shapiro argued that enforcement after the fact is insufficient. “We can’t just do this retroactively and wait for people to get hurt or wait for these companies to break the law,” he said. “We need to put proactive measures in place and establish responsible regulations to prevent this kind of thing from happening in the first place.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">His administration has initiated an AI enforcement task force and literacy initiative, collaborating with universities and labor leaders on responsible AI use in government. Shapiro noted that Pennsylvania’s AI pilot program has improved efficiency in government operations.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He stated that addressing the risks of AI technology requires national and international cooperation. Shapiro criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Congress for not acting swiftly on AI regulation, highlighting the House's early adjournment.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Just days after the leaders of all these companies issued apocalyptic warnings, Mike Johnson adjourned the House of Representatives last night, weeks earlier than originally scheduled,” Shapiro said. “He has abdicated his responsibility to lead at a time when we cannot afford weakness and retreat.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Shapiro also rejected the notion that the only options are to allow unregulated AI development or to halt it entirely. He advocated for a balanced approach that includes international safety standards while competing with China in AI innovation.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Real leadership means keeping America ahead of China in AI innovation, pushing Beijing on practical guardrails to reduce risks to the American people, and putting effective safety measures in place here at home,” he said.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In August, Shapiro signed an executive order establishing standards for data center developers in Pennsylvania, which included removing AI data centers from the fast-track permitting program.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Shapiro concluded that technological development should continue, but with enforceable rules to protect the public. “The companies that will really succeed in the years to come won’t be the ones that bet on the wild, wild west,” he said. “They’ll be the ones that understand that swift progress grounded in a commitment to responsible, ethical development is the answer.”</p>