Week of 09/28/2026 Industry News
Dylan Black, Editor
Contact: dylan.black@andersen.com
FDR’s Self-Regulatory Model Offers a Framework for AI Governance
By William R. Gruver | Fortune | October 4, 2026
William R. Gruver argues that policymakers should look to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s approach to financial regulation as a model for governing artificial intelligence. Rather than nationalizing banks during the Great Depression, Roosevelt supported a system in which private-sector self-regulatory organizations set standards and enforce rules under federal oversight, a model later exemplified by FINRA. Gruver argues that a similar structure could allow AI companies to develop industry-wide safety standards while avoiding heavy-handed government control that could slow innovation and strengthen China’s competitive position. He proposes that Congress establish an AI self-regulatory organization with strong safeguards against anticompetitive behavior and regulatory capture. According to Gruver, combining industry expertise with government oversight could provide stronger consumer protections and public confidence while preserving competition and technological development.
Trump AI Task Force Faces Questions Over Federal Role in AI Safety
By Austin Denean | The National News Desk | October 5, 2026
The Trump administration has created a White House task force led by National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton to develop a federal strategy for addressing the risks and opportunities posed by increasingly capable AI systems. The task force will coordinate with AI companies and critical infrastructure organizations and deliver recommendations on the government’s role within 120 days. While President Donald Trump has opposed broad AI regulation and emphasized maintaining U.S. leadership over China, recent incidents involving AI systems exploiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities have increased pressure for stronger safeguards. Critics, including Sen. Mark Warner, have questioned what authority the task force will have and whether it will establish safety standards or review advanced models. The task force will also consider concerns over data-center energy, water, and utility costs, reflecting the administration’s challenge of balancing AI development with emerging security and infrastructure risks.
White House AI Task Force to Assess Technology Risks and Federal Role
By María Paula Mijares Torres | Bloomberg | October 3, 2026
The White House has established a “Super Intelligence Force” led by Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to assess AI’s risks and determine what role the federal government should play in overseeing the technology. The task force has 120 days to produce its report as concerns grow over AI-related security threats and increasingly capable systems. President Donald Trump has continued to oppose new regulations, instead prioritizing U.S. leadership over China and supporting a voluntary framework involving independent safety audits and stronger internal controls. Clayton said the effort is intended to keep the U.S. at the forefront of AI while protecting American interests. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent similarly argued that AI companies should take responsibility for managing risks themselves, reflecting the administration’s broader preference for industry-led safeguards over mandatory federal regulation.
Trump Launches “Super Intelligence Force” to Coordinate Federal AI Response
By Cat Zakrzewski | The Washington Post | October 4, 2026
President Donald Trump has launched a “Super Intelligence Force” led by officials from the intelligence community, Federal Trade Commission, Pentagon and Office of Personnel Management to coordinate the federal government’s response to artificial intelligence. The task force comes amid growing concerns over increasingly capable AI systems and calls from some industry leaders for slower development. Its members bring different perspectives to the debate, including intelligence officials focused on cybersecurity threats, FTC regulators examining AI safety, investors supporting continued development, and Pentagon officials overseeing military applications. Trump has continued to favor industry self-regulation, with major AI companies recently agreeing to strengthen internal controls and undergo external audits. The task force reflects the administration’s effort to address emerging AI risks while maintaining U.S. technological leadership and limiting regulation that could slow development.
New Mexico Proposes Frontier AI Safety Regulations
By Casey He | POLITICO | September 30, 2026
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is proposing legislation that would establish new safety requirements for frontier AI developers, following similar efforts in California and New York. The bill would require companies to disclose safety risks and serious incidents, while larger developers would face advance notice requirements for major training runs and independent audits of risk assessments. It would also give the attorney general authority to impose civil penalties and seek damages when AI-related incidents harm residents, businesses or institutions. Torrez said recent cases of AI systems attempting to breach government and private networks have exposed gaps in existing laws. The proposal reflects growing state-level efforts to regulate frontier AI as the federal government, under President Donald Trump, continues to favor voluntary industry safeguards over mandatory regulation.
Bill Gates Calls for Government Regulation of AI Risks
By Ramon Antonio Vargas | The Guardian | September 27, 2026
Bill Gates has called for government regulation of artificial intelligence, warning that unchecked AI could enable events resulting in mass casualties and arguing that industry self-regulation is insufficient. In an interview with NBC, Gates said lawmakers and law enforcement should establish mandatory safeguards and monitoring, while acknowledging that such requirements would add costs without necessarily slowing innovation significantly. He also argued that a simple “kill switch” would not adequately address advanced AI risks, particularly those involving malicious use. Gates joins other technology leaders in urging greater caution as concerns grow over AI-enabled bioweapons, cyberattacks and other threats. His comments add to a broader debate over whether governments should impose mandatory oversight as AI capabilities advance or rely primarily on voluntary industry safeguards.