Navigating AI Policy with Jake Morabito | Let People Prosper 166🎙️

How states can lead on technology without stifling innovation

Hello Friends!

What happens when innovation runs headfirst into big government?

On this week’s Let People Prosper Show, I’m joined by Jake Morabito, Senior Director at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), where he leads both the Communications and Technology Task Force and the Energy, Environment, and Agriculture Task Force. Jake is working directly with state lawmakers to make sure freedom—not federal micromanagement—drives the future of innovation.

From AI and broadband expansion to smart cities and age verification, Jake has been at the center of some of the most pressing debates in technology policy. His background—from Capitol Hill with Rep. Darrell Issa to his work with Software.org—gives him a unique perspective on how lawmakers handle innovation and how often they get it wrong. Together, we explore how states can lead in AI without replicating California’s regulatory overreach, how to bridge the digital divide without fostering dependency, and how free-market principles can guide a more prosperous digital future.

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🎯 Key Takeaways

• States are the laboratories of democracy when it comes to AI and tech policy.

• Market forces—not government mandates—should drive the expansion of broadband.

• Parents, not bureaucrats, should take responsibility for monitoring kids’ tech use.

• AI can empower work, education, and even therapy, but risks come with overregulation.

• Smart Cities must strike a balance between efficiency and privacy protections.

• AI will shape the future of work—legislators need to prepare responsibly.

❓ Five Questions We Explore

1. What drew Jake into the tech-policy space, and how did his journey shape his free-market perspective?

2. How should states approach AI policy without smothering innovation under heavy regulation?

3. What’s the best way to achieve digital equity without creating government dependency?

4. How can states integrate Smart City technologies while respecting individual freedom and privacy?

5. What are the biggest opportunities—and threats—for liberty in the next wave of innovation?

🧠 My Take:

Tech policy may sound abstract, but it touches everything: jobs, education, healthcare, privacy, and how free we’ll be in the digital age. What struck me in this conversation is Jake’s conviction that states—not Washington—are best positioned to lead.

If AI is the “electricity” of the 21st century, then the question isn’t whether it will transform our lives, but whether it will do so under the heavy hand of regulators or the guiding hand of free markets. From broadband to Smart Cities, the same principle applies: empower individuals, respect privacy, and let innovation flourish.

The temptation for government is always the same—to control, to tax, to dictate. But as Jake reminds us, liberty is the real foundation of a prosperous digital economy. If we want the next era of tech to expand opportunity, we can’t let California-style regulation become America’s default.

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Overview
01:57 – Jake Morabito’s Background and Story
04:52 – ALEC’s Role in Tech Policy
07:35 – Why States Must Lead on Innovation
10:45 – Free-Market Thinkers and Influences
13:45 – AI: Challenges and Opportunities
16:37 – The Patchwork of AI Laws Across States
19:35 – Washington’s Role (and Overreach) in AI
22:37 – Addressing Bias and Risk in AI Tools
25:40 – The Future of AI and Jobs
28:16 – Balancing AI Ethics and Responsibility
30:57 – Age Verification and Parental Responsibility
32:51 – AI and Child Safety Concerns
36:23 – Bridging the Digital Divide the Right Way
43:34 – Smart Cities and Privacy Protections
46:14 – Preparing for Job Displacement in the AI Era

🔚 Final Thoughts

The future of tech is being written right now—and whether it’s AI, broadband, or Smart Cities, the choice is between freedom and control. Jake Morabito makes the case that states can be leaders if they choose liberty over bureaucracy.

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