At the U.S. Chamber’s Technology Leadership Summit, spirited discussions ensued on the biggest questions facing the tech industry, ranging from empowering small businesses through technology, cutting through regulatory barriers to foster innovation, and advancing U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors. But one question eclipsed the rest: How do we ensure certainty for small businesses as contradictory state laws governing AI and privacy sow confusion and dysfunction?
Regulatory Clarity is a Must
This crucial priority was echoed by nearly every speaker throughout the day—the urgent need for regulatory clarity at the federal level and an end to confusing, conflicting laws and regulations at the state and local levels. By reducing these burdensome regulations and enacting federal frameworks on things like privacy and AI, small businesses and entrepreneurs can thrive.
Chip Yager, vice president of strategy at Zebra Technologies, put it best. “We, like many companies that want to innovate in this space, have to work within the regulatory confines we find ourselves in. If there are 50 states of different regulatory dynamics and rules, it’s going to become a whole lot harder for us to scale and provide value to our customer base,” he said.
Beyond a fragmented regulatory landscape, businesses and the future of American innovation face additional hurdles. Removing barriers to energy infrastructure development and streamlining the permitting process are essential to unlocking economic growth and driving innovation forward.
“We have to have a regulatory framework that matches our ambitions,” said Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Emerging Technologies Open Doors
Another theme that remained consistent throughout the event was that businesses of all sizes are utilizing new technological breakthroughs to punch above their weight. According to the U.S. Chamber’s 2025 Empowering Small Business Report, 96% of small business owners plan to adopt emerging technologies, including AI and cryptocurrencies. Everyday entrepreneurs and business owners are applying these transformative innovations to set their businesses and employees up for future success.
Private sector leaders Kara Calvert, vice president of U.S. policy at Coinbase, and Jim Shaughnessy, chief legal officer at DocuSign, explained how AI and stablecoins are helping small businesses keep up with the competition and become more efficient.
“We're positioning small businesses for success in the future with these technologies. The way communities survive is by giving them better tools to compete,” said Calvert.
Positioning America to Lead
U.S. leadership in the global tech landscape has never been more important. To remain competitive with global adversaries and protect national security, we must rely on cooperation between industries and allied governments around the world.
Chris Pilkerton, assistant secretary for investment security at the Department of the Treasury described how the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) and its new outbound investment screening program will help bolster investments in critical technologies like AI while safeguarding domestic industries.
“We recognize that things are constantly changing. On the same side of the token, we need stability and predictability to move forward...the north star of the CFIUS outbound program is and will always be national security,” Pilkerton said.
Ravi Kumar, CEO of Cognizant, similarly emphasized the transformative potential of AI as an intelligence resource and how new innovations can inform national security.
“This is a technology that’s addressing the most scarce resource we’ve had over the last 400 years, which is intelligence,” he said.
The Path Forward
As new technologies emerge, lawmakers must ensure that entrepreneurs and employees can capitalize on these powerful tools. Common sense federal regulatory frameworks for privacy and AI will empower small businesses, promote economic growth, and protect national security, all while ensuring U.S. leadership on a global scale.
As Senator David McCormick (R-PA) summed up the AI race, “Winning this is a team sport. It’s going to require bipartisan alignment, business leaders to come forward...It offers an enormous opportunity.”
About the author
Jordan Crenshaw
Crenshaw is Senior Vice President of the Chamber Technology Engagement Center (C_TEC).
