Government Affairs Committee Update: Navigating AI Policy

The AAF Government Affairs Committee met virtually on September 24 to dive into one of the most pressing issues for our industry: artificial intelligence. The conversation was led by Heather West, Senior Director of Cybersecurity and Privacy Services at Venable LLP, who is recognized nationally as a strategist at the intersection of technology, policy, and culture.

Heather reminded us that AI is no longer just an experimental tool. Generative AI is already creating text, images, and video at scale, and lawmakers are paying attention. We heard that Colorado now has one of the most detailed state AI laws, focused on high-risk systems like housing, jobs, and healthcare. Texas has followed with its own Responsible AI Governance Act, taking a broader but less prescriptive approach. Other states, from California to Utah, are introducing disclosure and transparency measures at a rapid pace.

Several big questions came to the forefront. Can AI-generated content ever be protected under copyright, or does it lack the human authorship required by law? Is prompt engineering enough to make a creative work “yours?" The answer is unsettled, but the stakes for agencies and advertisers are very real.

The committee also discussed the massive energy demands of AI data centers, the risks of embedded bias (like AI defaulting to male when asked to describe a physician), and the possibility of AI tools replacing traditional focus groups. Even college students are experimenting with “Study Buddy” agents that act like real partners in preparing for exams.

Closer to home, Maryland has already adopted a Responsible AI Policy for how state agencies use AI and launched work on a 2025 AI Roadmap. Both efforts show that questions about transparency, accountability, and workforce readiness are not just national issues, but ones that will shape our region’s creative economy.

The takeaway is clear: AI is moving faster than the rules around it. That means that AAF has an important role to play, both nationally and here in Baltimore. By asking the right questions, advocating for our members, and making sure creative businesses are protected and empowered as this technology reshapes the landscape.

Submitted by Ronaldo J. Sellers, Government Relations Chair, AAF Baltimore