Nominee backs standards-based approach at Commerce for AI oversight, pledges to work with Congress

Howard Lutnick told the Senate Commerce Committee he favors developing technical standards for artificial intelligence at the Department of Commerce and at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) instead of broad, prescriptive controls. He compared the desired approach to the department's cybersecurity standards, which he described as a global model.

Why this matters: AI governance is an emerging policy priority across Congress and the administration. The Commerce Department oversees NIST and has a central role shaping voluntary technical standards that can influence industry practice, federal procurement and international norms.

Ranking Member Maria Cantwell and Sen. Amy Klobuchar pressed Lutnick on collaboration and sought assurances that NIST's work would be used to develop consensus-driven standards. Lutnick said: "So rather than think about it, we want to make sure we protect and defend our country, but we wanna make sure that we lead. It has to be an American driven leadership in AI."

Several senators raised the Biden administration's AI Safety Institute and recent executive orders; Lutnick said standards and practices modeled on Commerce's cybersecurity approach would be the preferred path and pledged to work with lawmakers on bipartisan solutions. He described a "light touch" approach that encourages private-sector innovation while setting baseline practices for high-risk models.

Committee members also asked about NIST's existing standard-setting work and whether Commerce would continue support for nonregulatory, consensus-driven technical guidance. Lutnick said he would support NIST's standards work and collaborate with the committee to refine legislative frameworks where needed.