The United States has a long and proud history of invention, but we often struggle to fully put our innovations to work. We certainly know how to build and create technology, but it is another to deploy it broadly so that businesses, communities, and families truly benefit. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the latest and perhaps most powerful example. America is leading the world in developing AI models and tools, yet we are not moving fast enough to implement them across our economy and public institutions.
In a recent op-ed, Google’s president of global affairs Kent Walker put it plainly: “To lead in AI, we not only have to create the best models, we also have to put them to work.” That is the challenge before us – and it is one we cannot afford to ignore.
The next step for American leadership is not just research breakthroughs, but real-world adoption and integration.
That means deploying AI into our health care systems to minimize burdensome paperwork, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes. It means using AI to help firefighters analyze life-saving data in the middle of emergencies, or to help farmers maximize crop yields while conserving precious water resources. It also means supporting small businesses and local governments with smart digital tools that boost productivity, streamline operations, and save resources and money. Every sector of our economy, from manufacturing to education, has the potential to benefit if we act decisively.
Yet the biggest threat to this progress is overregulation. Some policymakers are calling for sweeping restrictions on AI that would slow down its adoption before we even see how this technology can be applied responsibly and ethically. Meanwhile, countries like China are rapidly embedding AI into its economy, government, and military. If we tie ourselves up in European-style regulatory red tape while Beijing races ahead, we risk losing not only market share but also the national security advantage that comes with technological leadership.
Of course, there are real and legitimate issues to address. Things like bias in algorithms, misuse of personal data, and the growing risks of misinformation are all issues that will need to be addressed. But the solution is not to halt progress. It’s to apply targeted, common-sense guardrails while training America’s workforce and giving businesses the confidence to deploy AI responsibly and transparently.
This is not a partisan issue. It is, at its core, an American issue. Economists warn that productivity growth is slowing. National security leaders warn that we cannot afford to fall behind in critical technologies. Both groups are sounding the same alarm: adoption is urgent, and delay is dangerous.
Here at home, Florida has an opportunity to lead by example, whether that’s using AI to streamline permitting and licensing, modernize transportation planning, or improve public school operations. These practical deployments will show citizens the tangible benefits of AI in their everyday lives, not just in headlines or academic papers. It is essential that our policymakers allow innovators to thrive and resist the temptation to overregulate as other states have done.
President Donald Trump has said that America should dominate the future of AI. He’s right. But leadership requires more than invention – it requires implementation, collaboration, and courage. We must start adopting and deploying AI now, in government, in business, and in education. The future will belong to the nation that not only builds the tools of tomorrow but also moves fastest to put them to use today.
Edward Briggs is CEO and Founder of B&B Capitol Strategies, LLC, a Tampa Bay-based lobbying firm specializing in government relations and legislative policy strategy.