Two hundred and fifty years ago, Benjamin Franklin played a key role in shaping the constitutional foundation that would position the United States as a leader in innovation. During debates at the Constitutional Convention, Franklin’s experience as both an inventor and statesman informed his view on how government policy could influence progress. He had seen how inconsistent state regulations under the Articles of Confederation hindered commerce and believed that unified national policies were essential for entrepreneurship.
Franklin contributed to the creation of the Commerce Clause, which grants Congress authority to “regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States.” This provision was intended to prevent regulatory fragmentation by ensuring inventors did not face different rules across state lines. Franklin himself chose not to patent his inventions, advocating for knowledge sharing to benefit society.
Today, concerns have been raised about emerging state-by-state regulations on artificial intelligence (AI). According to R Street Institute, these differing laws risk recreating the fragmented environment that once hampered American business. The organization argues that varying AI requirements in states like New York, Texas, and California create compliance challenges favoring established companies over new innovators.
“R Street believes, as Franklin did, that progress emerges from freedom, not control. Real solutions to legitimate concerns about AI safety will come from innovators free to experiment, iterate, and improve—not from bureaucrats prescribing theoretical solutions to practical problems.”
The group warns that this regulatory patchwork could undermine America’s technological leadership by making it harder for entrepreneurs to operate nationwide. They point out that unified markets encourage innovation while fragmented ones can stifle it.
“Franklin’s legacy reminds us that America’s technological dominance springs from a simple principle: Trust Americans to innovate and solve problems. When we abandon that trust in favor of precautionary prohibition, we abandon the very innovation culture that built our prosperity.”
R Street calls for safeguarding a national framework for technology regulation so future generations can continue building on Franklin’s vision.
