Gov. Ron DeSantis maintains his desire for some controls around artificial intelligence even as President Donald Trump posted online he is the only “guardrail” needed.
“We’ve been a leader on AI, where no one was really even talking about it,” DeSantis said Monday at the Florida Archery Center at Tenoroc. “I was the one that said you can’t have a hyperscale data center imposing water and electricity costs on residents, and that’s what was happening. And so, we were able to get legislation that blocked that.”
While legislators approved DeSantis’ call for restrictions on data centers, the House under the leadership of former Speaker Daniel Perez, now ambassador to Brazil, blocked DeSantis’ proposal to protect consumers’ interactions with artificial intelligence during the regular session and a special session in April. Perez believed the federal government should handle the issue and anticipated in April that Congress would address it “soon.”
Earlier this week, Trump proclaimed on his Truth Social site “the only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND START (High IQ) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!”
After declaring his administration has stopped “AI ‘people’ from doing bad, or potentially bad, things,” Trump added there are already “tremendous CRIMINAL and REGULATORY power” in place.
“There is a SICK conspiracy going on AI and Data Centers, and the only one that is happy about it is China,” Trump continued. “WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS! We are leading China, and all others, and will continue to do so. Conspiracy Theorists, Treasonists, Traitors, and Leakers, BEWARE!”
Last December, Trump issued an executive order seeking to limit state-level regulation of the fast-growing technology. But rather than preempting state laws, Trump’s directive required the U.S. Department of Justice to create an “AI Litigation Council” to review “onerous” state laws that don’t align with the White House’s positions. States not in alignment could become ineligible for money intended to expand high speed internet or face lawsuits.
DeSantis cautioned a recent push for federal regulations by AI companies in part lays the groundwork for federal bailouts if the technology doesn’t succeed.
“We’re responding to channeling the upsides, but also mitigating the downsides so that the people of the state are protected,” DeSantis said.
As for those seeking to replace DeSantis, Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly, the former Republican congressman, has proposed a one-year moratorium on data center construction to assess the effects on natural resources and surrounding communities.
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican candidate for governor, has emphasized local government control and ratepayer protections rather than the call for a year-long moratorium.
