CHICAGO — Gov. J.B. Pritzker called on Congress Friday in a video to pass new safeguards for the most powerful artificial intelligence systems, pointing to Illinois’ recently enacted law as a possible model for federal action.
“Congress needs to get back to work and enact legislation to regulate AI,” Pritzker said in the video. He later added, “Congress needs to follow Illinois’ lead and act now.”
Illinois already has a law aimed at what are known as “frontier” AI models, essentially the largest and most advanced systems being built by major AI companies. The law requires large developers to explain how they assess potentially catastrophic risks, report serious safety incidents and, beginning in 2028, undergo annual independent audits. Illinois is the first state to require those audits annually. California and New York adopted other frontier AI safety requirements earlier.
Illinois’ law focuses on scenarios such as AI helping someone carry out a major cyberattack or create a chemical, biological or nuclear weapon. It defines catastrophic risk to include incidents that could kill or seriously injure more than 50 people or cause more than $1 billion in property damage.
The push also comes with a political backdrop. Pritzker is seeking a third term as Illinois governor and is widely discussed as a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2028. On Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another Democrat frequently mentioned as a possible 2028 contender, issued an executive order accelerating AI oversight in his state and urged Washington to use California’s framework as a national baseline.
The timing does not establish that presidential ambitions motivated either governor. But it puts two nationally prominent Democratic governors on the same emerging issue as states move ahead of Congress in setting rules for increasingly powerful AI systems.
Illinois has already adopted safeguards for powerful AI systems, and the governor says Congress should act nationally.
Illinois has already adopted safeguards for powerful AI systems, and the governor says Congress should act nationally.
