Washington Moves to Regulate Autonomous AI
The U.S. government is moving to establish national rules for AI systems that can act autonomously, such as booking meetings or managing files. The new frameworks focus on accountability, explainability, and creating audit trails for AI-driven actions. The emerging guidance suggests treating AI governance as a core board-level responsibility, similar to cybersecurity or financial controls.
- The Department of Defense's "Responsible Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Implementation Pathway," signed by Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, guides the adoption of AI with a focus on warfighter trust and ethical principles. It outlines six foundational tenets for implementation: RAI Governance, Warfighter Trust, AI Product and Acquisition Lifecycle, Requirements Validation, Responsible AI Ecosystem, and AI Workforce. - A central component of federal AI guidance is the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF), released in January 2023. This voluntary framework helps organizations manage AI risks through four key functions: Govern, Map, Measure, and Manage. - In November 2023, the DoD released its Data, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence Adoption Strategy, developed by the Chief Digital and AI Office, to accelerate the use of these capabilities and ensure decision superiority for warfighters. This strategy aligns with and builds upon the ethical principles for AI that the department officially adopted in February 2020. - On July 28, 2025, the DoD established a specific policy for the use of AI in public affairs activities, outlining principles such as mission relevance, transparency, and oversight for generative AI. Any visual information created with generative AI for public affairs use must cite the technology's involvement. - The current administration has emphasized an "innovation-first" approach, with a July 2025 "America's AI Action Plan" outlining over 90 federal policy actions aimed at accelerating AI innovation and building infrastructure. This followed a January 2025 executive order focused on removing perceived barriers to AI development. - For small businesses, the Army's SBIR and STTR programs announced a new AI/Machine Learning funding opportunity in December 2024, with a "Direct to Phase II" award for developing voice-commanded autonomous maneuver for ground combat vehicles, offering up to $2 million per award. This is part of a broader effort to leverage SBIR/STTR programs to bring dual-use AI technologies with commercial potential into the defense ecosystem. - While federal policy evolves, states are actively creating their own regulations, with Colorado's AI Act, which imposes a duty of reasonable care to avoid algorithmic discrimination, serving as a template for several other states. In response to the growing number of state-level laws, House Republican leaders requested a GAO review in February 2026 to identify gaps and overlaps in AI regulation nationwide.
