As artificial intelligence (AI) advanced in 2025, industries increased their experimentation with the technology, leading to a rise in global investment and competition. Technology and Innovation Policy Analyst Angela Luna has analyzed how this shift from experimentation to widespread adoption is changing policy priorities as 2026 approaches.
Luna notes that while Congress did not pass significant AI-related legislation in 2025, executive actions from the Trump Administration positioned AI as a key national priority for maintaining U.S. competitiveness. She explains, “Although Congress did not pass major legislation in 2025, the Trump Administration advanced executive actions that positioned AI as a strategic national priority for U.S. competitiveness.”
The focus for 2026 is moving toward building infrastructure and developing regulations to support broader use of AI technologies. Policy priorities now include scaling up infrastructure, encouraging further innovation in AI, and expanding its application within federal government operations.
Luna also highlights ongoing uncertainty about how continued growth in AI will affect business operations, products, labor markets, and government services. She states that addressing these challenges will require effective scaling of infrastructure and governance frameworks that allow for deployment while minimizing risks: “The uncertainty around the continued growth of AI – particularly around how advanced models will reshape operations, products, labor, and government services – raises new challenges for policymakers; ultimately, success will depend on how well infrastructure scales and on governance frameworks that ensure deployment while minimizing risks.”
