Sen. Adam Schiff on making Congress relevant in the AI age

In a wide-ranging interview, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff—California Democrat—told Decoder that regulation for AI is inseparable from concerns about corruption in politics. The conversation unfolded against the backdrop of President Trump meeting AI CEOs at the White House to sign a non-binding pact focused on keeping AI safe. Schiff discussed what he views as the need for a more formal regulatory framework and how AI oversight may be compared with the regulatory approach used for social media. He also referenced legal issues involving Chevron deference and the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision, warning that new AI rules could face immediate litigation if a new agency is created. The interview was lightly edited for clarity.