TechTank Podcast – “Tech outlooks for 2026”
Host: Darrell West (Brookings Institution)
Guest/Co-host: Dr. Nicol Turner Lee (Director, Center for Technology Innovation, Brookings)
Date: February 2, 2026
Episode Overview
This special “tech outlook” episode features Darrell West and Dr. Nicol Turner Lee in a deep, wide-ranging discussion of the most critical technology trends and policy debates on the horizon for 2026 and beyond. Drawing on current research and recent policy moves, the hosts examine advances in generative AI, state versus federal regulation, cell phone bans in schools, concerns over nonconsensual AI-generated imagery, debates about child online safety, and how local-level leadership—especially in New York City—could set new national standards in tech governance.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. AI Policy and the Trump Executive Order
[02:08–09:47]
- Trump’s Executive Order on AI Regulation
- Limits states’ ability to regulate AI; instead, centralizes power at the federal level.
- Some exceptions exist (e.g., local data center regulations, state social media content laws, land-use requirements).
- Federal Preemption & State Rights
- Nicol Turner Lee: “State rights are particularly important, not just on the consumer protection side. I consider states as sort of the protector of your grandmother's Internet. They are the ones that are working to ensure that the attorney general has the power that he or she needs so that we can avoid things like fraud, scam, and abuse.” [03:27]
- Concerns that states could lose federal funding (including for broadband) if not aligned with federal directives.
- High Ambiguity and Global Competitiveness
- Executive order’s ambiguity allows for interpretation, potentially as a legal shield.
- The order’s goal is to out-compete China and Russia in AI capabilities.
- Geopolitical Context
- Discussion of critical minerals, Greenland, and how global resource control ties into U.S. AI strategy.
- Regulatory Pace
- Darrell West warns: “If you limit the state's ability to regulate AI... it’s going to be too late. Because that revolution is accelerating so rapidly. If we don't put any guardrails in place in the next three years, the world is going to be so completely different.” [08:58]
- Data Centers as a Flashpoint
- Data center locations, permitting and power requirements emerge as a significant area of policy contention.
2. Cell Phone Bans in Schools and Tech in Education
[09:47–18:17]
- Rising Prevalence of Cell Phone Bans
- Growing number of states/localities ban or restrict cell phones in schools in response to distraction and mental health concerns.
- Nicol Turner Lee: “I do think that much of the cell phone ban and the technology ban conversation are being driven by middle class families who have the ability to provide other choices to their kids.... Instead of banning, perhaps we need more thoughtful responses, much more media literacy and digital literacy education, AI literacy education as well.” [12:27]
- Equity and Access Considerations
- Cell phones are a critical lifeline for many students in marginalized or unsafe environments.
- Example: In Maricopa County, AZ, children used phones to monitor if family members were deported while at school.
- Historical Perspective
- Darrell West: “Bans historically have not worked on hardly any new technology because people do find a way to use them.” [14:13]
- Cell phones as primary gateway to internet for underserved students—bans risk deepening the digital divide.
- Mental Health, Loneliness & Social Cohesion
- Concerns over correlation between cell phone/social media use and youth mental health challenges.
- Nicol Turner Lee references Robert Putnam’s “Bowling Alone” to frame technology’s impact on social connectedness.
3. Nonconsensual AI-Generated Imagery and Deepfakes
[18:17–22:39]
- AI-Driven Image Manipulation Tools
- Outrage over AI applications (e.g., Grok) used to create nonconsensual, often sexualized, images of women.
- Nicol Turner Lee: “We've essentially given tech companies loopholes for people to do just really big horrible things and disturbing things on the same platform that has the potential to be a problem solver.” [19:38]
- Policy Responses & Congressional Inaction
- Some states (e.g., Minnesota) passed laws; most states and federal government have not.
- Commercial use of these tools by government agencies (e.g., Department of Defense, Signal) raises serious oversight and security concerns.
- International Developments
- The UK and European Union have launched investigations as U.S. lags in regulatory action.
- Darrell West: “…the company's defense that they're conforming to state or national laws doesn't make any sense given the fact they know we actually don't have much legislation to prohibit this kind of behavior.” [21:57]
4. Facial Recognition, Surveillance, and Immigration
[22:39–25:15]
- Expansion of Surveillance
- Facial recognition software now widely used in immigration enforcement and protest monitoring.
- Nicol Turner Lee highlights abuses: “Now we are seeing in places like Minnesota, where somebody can have their photo taken and then that information could be read by third party applications to determine whether or not that person should be in the United States or not.” [23:11]
- Broader Risks
- Widespread law enforcement adoption raises civil rights and privacy concerns, especially in contexts like protests or minority communities.
5. Children’s Safety and Social Media Regulation
[25:15–28:28]
- Australia’s Ban on Social Media for Minors
- 5 million under-16 accounts deactivated; rapid and sweeping implementation.
- Unintended consequences: digital isolation for rural/disabled/at-risk youths using platforms for basic communication.
- U.S. Congressional (In)action
- Despite public pressure (including from parents and high-profile hearings), no federal legislation yet.
- Privacy law reforms (Section 230, age verification, data privacy) remain stalled.
- Dr. Nicol Turner Lee: “Until we have a conversation around what data privacy looks like in this country...young people are still going to find ways to get on it and tech companies, unfortunately, going to find ways to go against, to find loopholes in the laws.” [27:24]
6. Local Leadership as a Test Bed: New York City’s Role
[28:28–34:20]
- Mayor Mandami’s Tech Agenda
- Mandami (NYC's new Democratic socialist mayor, guided by ex-FTC chair Lina Khan) seen as a potential national standard-setter, akin to California.
- Potential Areas of Policy Innovation
- Consumer protection: bans/moratorium on facial recognition, algorithmic decision-making in housing and other public services, transparency in retail surveillance, and AI content in elections.
- Economic opportunity: fostering entrepreneurship using AI.
- Ripple Effect
- When leading cities like NYC and states like CA and NY act, their measures often become de facto standards for national/international markets.
- Dr. Turner Lee: “If any tech company was looking for a boogie man or woman, it's coming out of New York...the new mayor is going to follow in her footsteps and follow on the legacy of what's already been done in New York when it comes to bans on facial recognition...” [30:08]
Memorable Quotes & Moments
- “I consider states as sort of the protector of your grandmother's Internet…. They are the ones that are working to ensure that the attorney General has the power that he or she needs so that we can avoid things like fraud, scam, and abuse.” – Nicol Turner Lee [03:27]
- “If you limit the state's ability to regulate AI... it’s going to be too late. Because that revolution is accelerating so rapidly. If we don't put any guardrails in place in the next three years... it'll be almost impossible to regulate at that point.” – Darrell West [08:58]
- “Much of the cell phone ban... conversation are being driven by middle class families who have the ability to provide other choices.... Instead of banning, perhaps we need more thoughtful responses, much more media literacy and digital literacy education, AI literacy education as well.” – Nicol Turner Lee [12:27]
- “Bans historically have not worked on hardly any new technology because people do find a way to use them.” – Darrell West [14:13]
- "We've essentially given tech companies loopholes for people to do just really big horrible things and disturbing things on the same platform that has the potential to be a problem solver.” – Nicol Turner Lee [19:38]
- “The company's defense that they're conforming to state or national laws doesn't make any sense given the fact they know we actually don't have much legislation to prohibit this kind of behavior.” – Darrell West [21:57]
- “If any tech company was looking for a boogie man or woman, it's coming out of New York.” – Nicol Turner Lee [30:08]
- “I do see, you know, embedded in the mayor's agenda is also an economic opportunity agenda, which Darrell, I'm over here scratching my head, thinking, hey, I think a blog may be coming out of this. You know, how New York City and under Mandani may actually sort of frame, I think some of the future regulatory heft...” – Nicol Turner Lee [33:35]
Timestamps for Notable Segments
- 02:08–09:47 – Executive order on AI and state/federal tensions
- 09:47–18:17 – Cell phone bans, education tech, and digital literacy
- 18:17–22:39 – Non-consensual AI imagery and deepfakes
- 22:39–25:15 – Surveillance, facial recognition, and immigration
- 25:15–28:28 – Children’s safety, Australia’s social media ban, and U.S. policy gridlock
- 28:28–34:20 – New York City as a policy incubator: facial recognition, privacy, and AI regulation
Closing Thoughts
The episode emphasized how AI, data privacy, and digital rights remain at the center of political and policy struggles, both nationally and at the state/local level. With the 2026 tech landscape shaped as much by federal power struggles as by ambitious local initiatives (particularly in NYC), policymakers, advocates, and the tech industry face a rapidly-changing—and often ambiguous—regulatory environment.
For more tech policy insights, follow the TechTank podcast and blog at brookings.edu.