Regulation, Policy, Governance
How policymakers can best regulate AI to balance innovation with public interests and human rights.
The state's Delete Act was supposed to give Californians a one-stop-shop to request their online information be deleted. But only a minority of registered data brokers are abiding by those laws, says Jennifer King, privacy and data policy fellow at the Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered AI.
The state's Delete Act was supposed to give Californians a one-stop-shop to request their online information be deleted. But only a minority of registered data brokers are abiding by those laws, says Jennifer King, privacy and data policy fellow at the Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered AI.
In January 2026, Utah announced a first-of-its kind pilot program allowing an autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agent to renew prescriptions for consumers who request it. The state agreed not to enforce its unprofessional conduct laws against the developer, Doctronic, if the company adheres to a contract that includes safety and privacy protections. The pilot program includes 192 drugs for chronic conditions. Although physicians will initially validate the AI’s actions, the pilot program will swiftly become one of the first deployments at scale of an autonomous, agentic system in medicine. The announcement prompted concern from associations of physicians and pharmacists who opined that AI “should NOT be making care decisions.”
In January 2026, Utah announced a first-of-its kind pilot program allowing an autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) agent to renew prescriptions for consumers who request it. The state agreed not to enforce its unprofessional conduct laws against the developer, Doctronic, if the company adheres to a contract that includes safety and privacy protections. The pilot program includes 192 drugs for chronic conditions. Although physicians will initially validate the AI’s actions, the pilot program will swiftly become one of the first deployments at scale of an autonomous, agentic system in medicine. The announcement prompted concern from associations of physicians and pharmacists who opined that AI “should NOT be making care decisions.”
We welcome proposals for research projects that tackle important challenges and opportunities in this space from either a technical or social science perspective, with findings that can generate policy insights and recommendations.
Policy Research Grants
We welcome proposals for research projects that tackle important challenges and opportunities in this space from either a technical or social science perspective, with findings that can generate policy insights and recommendations.
Designing Loyalty: AI Agents and Conflicts of Interest
This brief examines the conflict-of-interest risks posed by AI agents and calls for imposing a duty of loyalty on developers and deployers.
This brief examines the conflict-of-interest risks posed by AI agents and calls for imposing a duty of loyalty on developers and deployers.
All Work Published on Regulation, Policy, Governance
New Stanford Grants Tackle AI's Impact on Global Security and Geopolitics
Stanford HAI and the Hoover Institution’s Technology Policy Accelerator back projects examining AI's role in detecting nuclear proliferation, U.S.-China competition, and political influence.
Stanford HAI and the Hoover Institution’s Technology Policy Accelerator back projects examining AI's role in detecting nuclear proliferation, U.S.-China competition, and political influence.
The AI Arms Race In Health Insurance Utilization Review: Promises Of Efficiency And Risks Of Supercharged Flaws
Health insurers and health care provider organizations are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in prior authorization and claims processes. AI offers many potential benefits, but its adoption has raised concerns about the role of the “humans in the loop,” users’ understanding of AI, opacity of algorithmic determinations, underperformance in certain tasks, automation bias, and unintended social consequences. To date, institutional governance by insurers and providers has not fully met the challenge of ensuring responsible use. However, several steps could be taken to help realize the benefits of AI use while minimizing risks. Drawing on empirical work on AI use and our own ethical assessments of provider-facing tools as part of the AI governance process at Stanford Health Care, we examine why utilization review has attracted so much AI innovation and why it is challenging to ensure responsible use of AI. We conclude with several steps that could be taken to help realize the benefits of AI use while minimizing risks.
Health insurers and health care provider organizations are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools in prior authorization and claims processes. AI offers many potential benefits, but its adoption has raised concerns about the role of the “humans in the loop,” users’ understanding of AI, opacity of algorithmic determinations, underperformance in certain tasks, automation bias, and unintended social consequences. To date, institutional governance by insurers and providers has not fully met the challenge of ensuring responsible use. However, several steps could be taken to help realize the benefits of AI use while minimizing risks. Drawing on empirical work on AI use and our own ethical assessments of provider-facing tools as part of the AI governance process at Stanford Health Care, we examine why utilization review has attracted so much AI innovation and why it is challenging to ensure responsible use of AI. We conclude with several steps that could be taken to help realize the benefits of AI use while minimizing risks.
Regulating Data Brokers in the Age of AI: A California Case Study
This brief assesses data broker compliance with California privacy laws and calls for more stringent consumer protections.
This brief assesses data broker compliance with California privacy laws and calls for more stringent consumer protections.
Daniel E. Ho
This conversation spans the evolution of AI, exploring the opportunities for AI to augment human capabilities, particularly in healthcare, education, and scientific discovery. Fei-Fei discusses the limits of today’s AI, the importance of preserving human agency, and why society, not just the technology industry, needs to play a role in shaping its future.
This conversation spans the evolution of AI, exploring the opportunities for AI to augment human capabilities, particularly in healthcare, education, and scientific discovery. Fei-Fei discusses the limits of today’s AI, the importance of preserving human agency, and why society, not just the technology industry, needs to play a role in shaping its future.