Source: The Hill

The Hill outlines the five most significant policy and legal battles expected to define the artificial intelligence landscape in 2026. As federal regulation in the U.S. continues to lag behind state-level initiatives, the report highlights an urgent push in Congress to establish a unified framework for AI safety and accountability. Key areas of contention include the scope of copyright protections for AI-generated works and whether AI companies should be held strictly liable for harmful outputs produced by their models.

The article also emphasizes the growing debate over the use of AI in high-stakes sectors such as healthcare and criminal justice, where risks of bias and inaccuracy can have life-altering consequences. Furthermore, the report discusses the geopolitical tensions surrounding AI, particularly regarding export controls on sensitive technology and the race to set international standards for "responsible" AI. As these battles unfold, stakeholders from across the tech industry, civil rights groups, and government agencies are bracing for a transformative year that will likely set the legal precedents for AI for decades to come.