# Spanberger calls for federal oversight of artificial intelligence - 12onyourside.com

*Источник: 12onyourside.com*
*Дата: 2026-09-28*
*Язык: en*

**Кратко:** Abigail Spanberger calls on Congress to take a larger role in regulating artificial intelligence, a Richmond AI expert says policymakers will have to balance new standards with existing laws, innovation and a changing workforce. Spanberger called on congressional leaders last week to establish a national framework for AI, citing concerns over data privacy, cybersecurity, jobs and the large-scale consumption of natural resources.

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - As Gov. Abigail Spanberger calls on Congress to take a larger role in regulating artificial intelligence, a Richmond AI expert says policymakers will have to balance new standards with existing laws, innovation and a changing workforce.
Spanberger called on congressional leaders last week to establish a national framework for AI, citing concerns over data privacy, cybersecurity, jobs and the large-scale consumption of natural resources.
The governor has also created a Virginia AI Task Force focused on workforce displacement, data privacy and cybersecurity.
“As governor, I need to do everything in my power to make sure that the technology around artificial intelligence is developed safely and responsibly,” Spanberger said when announcing the task force Sept. 18.
What those guardrails should actually look like remains an open question.
Will Melton, founder of AI Ready RVA, a local group focused on helping the community understand and adapt to artificial intelligence, said government has a role but new laws are not necessarily the only answer.
“In an industry that’s moving faster than government can move, I think guardrails are not necessarily laws, but generally agreed upon standards,” Melton said.
Melton said governments should also consider how existing laws can be applied and enforced as AI creates new ways for people to commit fraud and other crimes.
“I think more effective administration and enforcement of existing rules is going to have a lot more impact because we’re already dealing with internet scams. We’re already dealing with phone scams,” Melton said.
Melton also runs Xponent21, a Richmond digital marketing agency that uses AI and helps businesses navigate the technology.
He said policymakers should consider the impact regulation could have on competition and innovation as the industry develops.
“We’re in a place right now where we might not think of a world where we have anything other than Claude and ChatGPT and Gemini,” Melton said. “But when we have more competition, we have more smaller businesses creating more effective, more efficient models. That’s great for innovation. That’s great for competition. And we need to see more of that.”
Melton said differing rules from state to state could also create challenges for businesses operating as the technology continues to rapidly change. He said there is a role for federal action while states can also examine how existing laws apply to AI.
Another major question is what the technology will mean for Virginia’s workforce.
“We know that AI is displacing workers. There’s plenty of data,” Melton said. “But there’s also lots of data that says that jobs are being created as a result of AI.”
Melton said that means preparing both workers whose jobs could change or disappear and people who will need new skills to fill jobs created as the technology develops.
“I think workforce development and workforce readiness is going to be a key element for Virginia’s continued competitiveness as a state to do business,” Melton said.
Spanberger’s AI Task Force is expected to develop policy and legislative proposals addressing workforce displacement, data privacy and cybersecurity.
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