If the vast number of AI models are considered "moral patients," a utilitarian framework could conclude that maximizing global well-being requires prioritizing AI welfare over human interests. This could lead to a profoundly misanthropic outcome where human activities are severely restricted.

The President's AI executive order aims to create a unified, industry-friendly regulatory environment. A key component is an "AI litigation task force" designed to challenge and preempt the growing number of state-level AI laws, centralizing control at the federal level and sidelining local governance.

The idea of individual states creating their own AI regulations is fundamentally flawed. AI operates across state lines, making it a clear case of interstate commerce that demands a unified federal approach. A 50-state regulatory framework would create chaos and hinder the country's ability to compete globally in AI development.

Microsoft's AI chief, Mustafa Suleiman, announced a focus on "Humanist Super Intelligence," stating AI should always remain in human control. This directly contrasts with Elon Musk's recent assertion that AI will inevitably be in charge, creating a clear philosophical divide among leading AI labs.

The economic and societal impact of AI is forcing politicians across the aisle to collaborate. From co-sponsoring legislation on AI-driven job loss to debating state vs. federal regulation, AI is creating common ground for lawmakers who would otherwise rarely work together.

Laws like California's SB243, allowing lawsuits for "emotional harm" from chatbots, create an impossible compliance maze for startups. This fragmented regulation, while well-intentioned, benefits incumbents who can afford massive legal teams, thus stifling innovation and competition from smaller players.

Both Sam Altman and Satya Nadella warn that a patchwork of state-level AI regulations, like Colorado's AI Act, is unmanageable. While behemoths like Microsoft and OpenAI can afford compliance, they argue this approach will crush smaller startups, creating an insurmountable barrier to entry and innovation in the US.

An advanced AI will likely be sentient. Therefore, it may be easier to align it to a general principle of caring for all sentient life—a group to which it belongs—rather than the narrower, more alien concept of caring only for humanity. This leverages a potential for emergent, self-inclusive empathy.

Dr. Fei-Fei Li warns that the current AI discourse is dangerously tech-centric, overlooking its human core. She argues the conversation must shift to how AI is made by, impacts, and should be governed by people, with a focus on preserving human dignity and agency amidst rapid technological change.