Key GOP Senator Opens AI Regulation Debate Urging a Light Touch

Republican Senator Ted Cruz kicked off a debate over artificial intelligence policy by proposing legislation to enshrine a “light-touch” approach to regulating the emerging technology.

Cruz, who heads the powerful Commerce Committee, laid out a plan that echoes President Donald Trump’s executive orders on AI, focused on outperforming China in developing the technology by adopting hands-off, minimal regulation. Tech companies like Meta Platforms Inc., OpenAI, and Microsoft Corp., have embraced the approach.

Cruz is seeking a so-called regulatory sandbox that would allow AI companies to seek a temporary waiver that would let them experiment with ...