Regulation, Policy, Governance
How policymakers can best regulate AI to balance innovation with public interests and human rights.
Stop Telling AI Your Secrets - 5 Reasons Why, And What To Do If You Already Overshared
"The ultimate problem is that you just can't control where the information goes, and it could leak out in ways that you just don't anticipate," says HAI Privacy and Data Policy Fellow Jennifer King.
"The ultimate problem is that you just can't control where the information goes, and it could leak out in ways that you just don't anticipate," says HAI Privacy and Data Policy Fellow Jennifer King.
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 Seed 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.
Toward Responsible AI in Health Insurance Decision-Making
This brief proposes governance mechanisms for the growing use of AI in health insurance utilization review.
This brief proposes governance mechanisms for the growing use of AI in health insurance utilization review.
All Work Published on Regulation, Policy, Governance
AI Sovereignty’s Definitional Dilemma
Governments worldwide are racing to control their AI futures, but unclear definitions hinder real policy progress.
Governments worldwide are racing to control their AI futures, but unclear definitions hinder real policy progress.
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.
Response to OSTP's Request for Information on Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise
Stanford scholars respond to a federal RFI on scientific discovery, calling for the government to support a new “team science” academic research model for AI-enabled discovery.
Stanford scholars respond to a federal RFI on scientific discovery, calling for the government to support a new “team science” academic research model for AI-enabled discovery.
Daniel E. Ho
Elon Musk was forced to put restrictions on X and its AI chatbot, Grok, after its image generator sparked outrage around the world. Grok created non-consensual sexualized images, prompting some countries to ban the bot. Liz Landers discussed Grok's troubles with Riana Pfefferkorn of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.
Elon Musk was forced to put restrictions on X and its AI chatbot, Grok, after its image generator sparked outrage around the world. Grok created non-consensual sexualized images, prompting some countries to ban the bot. Liz Landers discussed Grok's troubles with Riana Pfefferkorn of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.