WashU Law AI Collaborative will be hosting a comprehensive AI Policy Series, covering critical topics in AI regulation and governance. This ongoing series will explore key issues such as state and federal AI regulations, federal preemption, copyright and intellectual property considerations, and more. Designed to keep policymakers, legal experts, and industry professionals informed, this series will provide in-depth discussions on the evolving AI policy landscape. Sign up to stay updated on this series and legal tech events at WashU Law.
A structured series of one-hour online discussions and panels exploring key AI policy and regulatory challenges at the state, federal, and international levels.
Eligible for free Missouri Bar MCLE, courtesy of WashU Law. Not eligible for CLE in other jurisdictions, but all are welcome to attend free for non-CLE credit.
Summer 2025
June 9
12:00-1:00 p.m. CT
An Overview of State AI Regulation
Speaker: Oliver Roberts, Co-Director, WashU AI Collaborative; Co-Head, AI Practice Group, Holtzman Vogel; Adjunct Professor, WashU Law
Key Topics:
- How U.S. states are approaching AI regulation
- Common themes in state AI legislation (transparency, bias mitigation, liability)
- Review of “high risk” AI bills versus domain-specific regulation
- Challenges of state-by-state regulation vs. federal oversight
June 9
1:00-2:00 p.m. CT
Differing Executive Approaches to AI Policy
Speaker: Oliver Roberts, Co-Director, WashU AI Collaborative; Co-Head, AI Practice Group, Holtzman Vogel; Adjunct Professor, WashU Law
Key Topics:
- AI policy in the Trump administration vs. the Biden administration
- Federal funding and regulatory priorities under each administration
- AI in national security, economic policy, and innovation strategies
- What the 2024 election means for the future of AI governance
June 10
12:00-1:00 p.m. CT
Federal Preemption of State AI Laws: Why It’s Likely Inevitable
Speaker: Oliver Roberts, Co-Director, WashU AI Collaborative; Co-Head, AI Practice Group, Holtzman Vogel; Adjunct Professor, WashU Law
Key Topics:
- The case for and against federal preemption in AI law
- The reasons why federal preemption is likely inevitable due to national security implications
- Industry and academic perspectives on the need for uniform AI laws
June TBD
Registration Coming Soon
Federal Preemption of State AI Laws: Scope, Mechanisms, and Legal Implications
Speaker: TBD
Key Topics:
- An analysis of constitutional methods for Congress to preempt state laws
- Evaluating the scope of federal preemption
- Analyzing which state AI laws would and would not be preempted
June TBD
Registration Coming Soon
AI Competition Between the U.S. and China: Strategic Policy Implications
Speaker: TBD
Key Topics:
- The AI arms race: Innovation, patents, and market dominance
- Government-led AI strategies in the U.S. vs. China
- The role of AI in military applications and cybersecurity
- AI-driven economic growth and the global AI talent war
July TBD
Registration Coming Soon
Comparing U.S. and International AI Regulatory Regimes
Speaker: TBD
Key Topics:
- How U.S. AI laws differ from global counterparts
- Lessons from AI regulation in China, Canada, the UK, and beyond
- The role of trade agreements and diplomacy in shaping AI policy
- Potential for international AI regulatory alignment
July TBD
Registration Coming Soon
The EU AI Act: What It Means for the U.S. and Global AI Policy
Speaker: TBD
Key Topics:
- Key provisions of the EU AI Act and its risk-based framework
- How the AI Act impacts U.S. companies operating in Europe
- Potential influence of the EU model on U.S. AI regulation
- Compliance strategies for businesses subject to EU jurisdiction
July TBD
Registration Coming Soon
U.S. Export Controls and Their Impact on AI Development
Speaker: TBD
Key Topics:
- Overview of U.S. AI export controls and licensing restrictions, e.g., AI Diffusion Rule
- How export controls affect AI chip production and global supply chains
- The impact of restrictions on U.S. AI startups and big tech firms
- China’s response and workarounds to U.S. export policies
July TBD
Registration Coming Soon
Examining the Copyright Litigation Surrounding AI Training Data
Speaker: TBD
Key Topics:
- Landmark AI copyright lawsuits and their implications
- Can AI-generated content be copyrighted?
- Fair use and AI model training: Key legal battles
- The role of courts in shaping AI intellectual property law
July TBD
Registration Coming Soon
Should Congress Change Copyright Law to Accommodate AI Development?
Speaker: TBD
Key Topics:
- How current copyright law applies to AI
- Arguments for and against revising U.S. copyright law for AI
- How copyright reform could impact AI innovation and creators
- Lessons from international copyright frameworks