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Taking on Government Bureaucracy (with Shane Bigelow)

2 months ago | aei.org | Shane Tews |Owen O’Brien-Powers

DMVs are notoriously slow, primarily because of outdated systems that constitute the foundation of their operations. Nevertheless, these processes can be greatly improved by adopting modern, efficient solutions. Such innovations not only enhance DMV operations but also offer valuable insights into the modernization of other sluggish government functions, potentially streamlining services across various sectors. Below are the highlights from my conversation with Shane Bigelow, CEO of CHAMP Titles.
Age Verification Laws vs. Parental Controls: Why the Legislatures, Courts, and Tech Aren’t on the Same Page

2 months ago | aei.org | Shane Tews |Owen O’Brien-Powers

Technology is an integral part of our daily lives. Whether we connect with friends, seek instant information, or find entertainment, the online world is intricately woven into our life experiences. However, policymakers are encountering an increasing number of parents demanding regulations as their answer to protect America’s children. Some lawmakers in Congress and state legislatures nationwide have turned to age verification legislation as a solution.
The Value of Waiting: What Finance Theory Can Teach Us About the Value of Not Passing AI bills

2 months ago | aei.org | Will Rinehart |Owen O’Brien-Powers

Nearly every time I am asked about AI governance, I’m asked some version of this question: The government runs slow and AI businesses are running fast, so is the government keeping up? Adam Thierer put together the graph below which captures the idea, which is called the pacing problem. While our technological capabilities sprint ahead, our social and legal frameworks merely power-walk behind. The pacing problem lies at the heart of AI regulation.
Protecting Kids and Adults Online: Device-Level Age Authentication

2 months ago | aei.org | Daniel Lyons |Owen O’Brien-Powers

Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which involves a constitutional challenge to a Texas age verification law for websites containing sexually explicit material. The case offers the Court the opportunity to revisit two cases decided at the dawn of the Internet Age finding such requirements violated the First Amendment.
Trump’s Big, Bold AI Gamble

Jan 24, 2025 | aei.org | Michael Rosen |Owen O’Brien-Powers

What a difference a week makes. As others and I have predicted, newly-inaugurated President Trump rolled back much of his predecessor’s policy approach to artificial intelligence (AI). But few forecasted just how stark the contrast has been. Last week, before the inauguration, I argued that Trump should reverse outgoing President Biden’s ill-considered Executive Order on AI.
Demystifying Social Media Addiction Litigation

Jan 17, 2025 | aei.org | Clay Calvert |Owen O’Brien-Powers

The old sales pitch hollered by baseball game vendors was “you can’t tell the players without a scorecard.” Something similar rings true today about not only knowing the litigants but also their theories in more than 1,000 lawsuits wending their way through numerous courts and blaming social media platforms for addicting and harming minors. The plaintiffs range from minors and parents to public school districts, local governments, and more than 40 states.
The Wearable Revolution: Transforming Health Care with AI-Driven Insights

Jan 15, 2025 | aei.org | Shane Tews |Owen O’Brien-Powers

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 has come and gone, leaving a wave of exciting new technologies. For health-conscious consumers, the show was packed with the latest advancements in wearable technology. From innovative smartwatches to AI-powered rings, CES 2025 revealed a new generation of devices intended to empower individuals in their pursuit of health and well-being.
Why Encryption Matters More Than Ever

Dec 11, 2024 | aei.org | Shane Tews |Owen O’Brien-Powers

In a remarkable shift that underscores the critical state of digital privacy, US officials are now actively encouraging Americans to use encrypted messaging apps for their communications. This recommendation comes after the “Volt Typhoon” attacks attributed to a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group targeting US critical infrastructure, including communications, energy, and transportation sectors and the “Salt Typhoon” attacks.
The Necessity of Narrow Tailoring: Why Florida’s Latest Social Media Law Is Unconstitutional

Dec 11, 2024 | aei.org | Clay Calvert |Owen O’Brien-Powers

If ever a First Amendment challenge to a statute constraining minors’ access to social media platforms was inevitable, it’s surely the one filed in late October by trade associations Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and NetChoice targeting a vastly overbroad Florida law, House Bill 3. As explained here, the complaint in CCIA v.
America’s Two Singaporean Futures Under President Trump

Dec 9, 2024 | aei.org | Jim Harper |Owen O’Brien-Powers

“Tech” could push our society in two different directions in the forthcoming Trump administration. They could both be called the Singaporean model. But one could be an embrace of Singapore’s authoritarianism, while the other is an embrace of Singapore’s openness to real technological change. You could guess which I prefer. The inspiration for the instant exposition is a recent Persuasion podcast on the “Singaporean model” of development.