State policymakers met with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington) in Olympia on Thursday, Oct. 8, to discuss how Washington state is regulating artificial intelligence and emphasize the need for increased federal safeguards.
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a trio of bills earlier this year aimed at protecting Washington residents from some of the proven harms of growing AI use.
But on the federal level, the Trump administration and Republicans have opted for a self-regulation approach to AI, with industry leaders signing on to a voluntary safety agreement at a recent White House AI summit.
“We can’t afford to regulate AI with nothing but a pinky promise. We cannot just wait for the worst risks of this technology to become reality before we take action,” Murray said during the Oct. 8 discussion.
State policymakers who met with Murray on Thursday highlighted the strengths of Washington state’s AI protections.
The trio AI protection laws passed this year include a requirement that video, photo or audio recordings created or enhanced by artificial intelligence include distinguishable provenance data that makes the AI-enhanced content more easily identifiable.
The laws also prohibit the possession, distribution or viewing of computer-generated sexually explicit conduct involving minors, and require any AI chatbots targeting children to include a disclaimer that the chatbot is not human.
Chatbots are also prohibited from using manipulative engagement techniques.
“The statewide AI strategy we've developed is committed to human‑focused, trustworthy innovation, and gives state agencies the tools, guardrails, and shared platforms they need to deploy AI safely and transparently,” said Gretchen Peri, chief technology officer at Washington Technology Solutions and Washington state’s chief technology officer. “Backed by new state laws that reinforce accountability and public trust, we’re proving that government can lead AI adoption with responsibility, foresight, humanity, and dignity.”
State policymakers warned Murray to beware tech lobbyists advocating for legislation that creates a “liability shield” for AI companies and removes their duty of care for consumers.
Rob Eleveld, CEO and co-founder of the Transparency Coalition, said that existing product liability laws will be the best way to hold AI companies accountable until greater regulations can be passed.
“Product liability laws have 125 years of history. It's why we trust over-the-counter medicine. That's why we trust our brakes and our cars. That's why we trust children's toys. All of those things. AI is absolutely a product. It should be applied,” Eleveld said.
Ultimately, Murray and those who joined her for the roundtable discussion agreed that federal regulations on AI are sorely needed.
“The federal government has to step in. I think it is very clear that the risks that are out there are real, and that we cannot bury our heads,” Murray said.
Murray’s roundtable discussion in Olympia came days after fellow Washington Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell released a framework of six AI safety principals intended to drive legislative and executive around AI regulations.
“To manage risks from advanced AI systems we need clear safety standards, continuous testing, and reporting of serious failures,” Cantwell stated in a news release. “America can lead the world in AI by building systems that are not only more capable, but safer and more secure.”
Murray said Thursday that, while she hadn’t had the chance to fully review her legislative proposals, Cantwell’s platform “has some really good ideas in it.”
As the lead Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, Cantwell would likely have considerable influence on any AI legislation should Democrats regain control of the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections.
Cantwell and Murray both secured reelection in 2024, and their seats are not on the ballot this year.
Following her visit to Olympia on Thursday, Murray traveled to Vancouver, Washington, for a roundtable with U.S. Sen. Ron Ryden, D-Oregon, on the impacts the federal AI pilot program “Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction” (WISeR) has had on MediCare users in Washington and Oregon.
