In this conversation, Matt Perault, head of AI policy, and Collin McCune, head of government affairs, take stock of the current AI policy moment.

As AI policy moves beyond rhetoric and into a more consequential phase, Matt and Collin separate signal from noise. They unpack where momentum is building in Washington, how state activity continues to drive the policy environment, and what it all means for Little Tech.

Along the way, they dig into some of the most active debates including proposals focused on protecting kids, workforce disruption, data centers, benchmarking and licensing regimes, and the evolving balance between federal and state action.

Enjoy.

Topics covered:

01:14: The current AI policy moment

03:45: The White House National AI Framework: what’s new and what’s next

11:49: Kids, AI access, and the case against bans

17:49: Data centers, communities, and energy policy

19:56: Workforce disruption, retraining, and labor policy

25:32: Copyright, censorship, and other key debates

26:55: The Democrat perspective and response

32:27: Benchmarking, testing, and startup access

33:23: Licensing regimes and regulatory capture risks

38:16: What’s next in Congress?

44:00: States at the center of AI policymaking

48:22: Preemption, federalism, and the state-federal divide

55:27: Dormant Commerce Clause implications

58:59: Why Little Tech needs to stay engaged now

Resources:

Subscribe to the a16z AI Policy Brief: https://a16zpolicy.substack.com/

Follow Matt Perault: https://x.com/MattPerault

Follow Collin McCune: https://x.com/Collin_McCune

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit a16zpolicy.substack.com

Catching Up on the Current Moment in AI Policy