AI Lobbying Leaps as Washington, Industry Weigh New Guardrails

Regulatory attorney Marissa Serafino and Federal Government Affairs attorney Todd Wooten were quoted in a Bloomberg Law article analyzing the surge in federal lobbying tied to artificial intelligence (AI) law and policy. A Bloomberg Government review of lobbying disclosures from the first half of the year revealed nearly $112 million in revenue, almost half of which came in the second quarter alone; the data indicates that as the midterms approach, companies potentially affected by federal AI regulation are increasingly turning to K Street for advocacy and policy counsel. Holland & Knight, for example, reported the third-highest lobbying revenues related to AI last quarter.

Although sweeping AI legislation remains unlikely in the short term, with lawmakers and the Trump Administration divided over balancing guardrails with innovation, Marissa told Bloomberg Law there's "a lot of low-hanging fruit" that could fit into a larger package if Congress decides to act sooner. Todd added that "people are moving very fast to try and make sure that they get their seat at the table and their place in the debate," given the liability risks from a lack of federal protection and questions about how policymakers would react to a crisis.

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