Utah Governor Announces Ambitious AI Initiative, vows to Defend State Authority Amid Federal Concerns
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - November 21, 2025 – Utah Governor Spencer Cox today unveiled a comprehensive statewide initiative focused on artificial intelligence, outlining plans for workforce growth, academic research, adn responsible AI implementation within state government. The declaration, made at a tech conference, comes as the White House reportedly considers an executive order that could preempt state AI laws, a move Governor Cox vowed to fight.
“The government should not be regulating the development of AI, but the minute you decide to use those tools to give my kid a sexualized chatbot, then it’s my business, and it’s the government’s business,” Cox stated, emphasizing the need for state-level oversight in specific applications of the technology. “And Congress should not be stopping us from being able to do that.”
Frustrated with Congressional inaction,Cox asserted that states “must act” if the federal government fails to address AI regulation. “I would much prefer that we have a Congress that can actually pass a bill, that could actually do something, that could function the way it was designed to function. But if it is not going to function, then the states must act, and we must have the ability to do that, and we will fight for that ability to do it,” he told the audience.
Utah’s AI initiative will focus on six key areas: workforce, industry, state government, academia, public policy, and learning. A central component will be the launch of a “pro-human AI academic consortium” designed to foster “moonshot challenges” and drive innovation centered on human flourishing.
The state is also committing $10 million to develop AI-focused curriculum, aiming to prepare Utah’s workforce for the changing job market, with particular emphasis on the energy and “deep tech” sectors – including semiconductor production and quantum computing. “The goal here is to ensure that every Utah student and worker can adapt, up-skill and succeed as AI transforms the workplace,” Cox explained.
Governor Cox also announced plans to expand the use of AI within state government operations.
Looking ahead to the upcoming legislative session in January, lawmakers will consider regulations to mitigate the negative impacts of AI chatbots, increase transparency surrounding AI-generated deepfakes, and establish safeguards for AI applications in healthcare.
This proactive approach builds on earlier legislative efforts, including a law signed earlier this year barring mental health chatbots from selling or using Utahns’ personal health data for targeted advertising. Cox has also dedicated meaningful effort to implementing guardrails for social media companies – many of which are developing AI platforms – to protect children,though some of these efforts have faced legal challenges.
Concerns remain that potential AI regulations could mirror criticisms leveled against laws impacting children’s social media use, specifically regarding potential limitations on free expression and the definition of harmful content, particularly for vulnerable groups like LGBTQ+ youth.
Note to readers, Dec. 2, 4:15 p.m. • This story has been updated to reflect developments in deliberations over a federal ban on state AI regulations.
