The AI fights to watch in 2026

Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly contentious policy issue over the past year, as lawmakers have grappled with the impact of the rapidly developing technology that has moved markets, influenced geopolitics and become largely unavoidable in daily life. 

Key issues — like who should decide regulations, how to balance the push for innovation with the potential risks, and how to best compete with China — have not fallen cleanly along party lines, occasionally dividing President Trump and his fellow Republicans.

As Washington, D.C., heads into 2026, battles over state preemption efforts, export controls on advanced chips and the data center boom are likely to remain at the forefront, while the midterm elections and growing frustrations with international tech regulations could add new layers to AI debates. 

Read more at The Hill