Tennessee - As artificial intelligence surges across industries and headlines, Governor Bill Lee has signed landmark legislation regulating specific uses of AI technology in Tennessee. The new laws aim to address growing concerns about deepfakes, the misuse of voice and likeness in the music industry, and—most gravely—the AI-driven creation of child sexual abuse material. The move places Tennessee among a handful of states taking action to shape the ethical boundaries of AI, even as a recent study finds the Volunteer State is the 15th least prepared to win the AI race. According to new data compiled by Brainly from the U.S. Census Bureau, BLS, and the National Center for Education Statistics, Tennessee lags behind national leaders in AI-related education, job creation, and infrastructure.

AI Readiness Snapshot:

• 22.2% of D.C. businesses already use AI (No. 1 nationally)
• 41 AI-intensive jobs per 1,000 workers in D.C.
• Tennessee ranks below average in AI-degree holders and digital infrastructure
• Alaska, West Virginia, and Maine round out the bottom of the list

Meanwhile, the tech-forward states of New Hampshire, Utah, Maryland, and Massachusetts lead in degrees, funding, and AI adoption. New Hampshire, for instance, grants 314 AI-related degrees per 10,000 young adults—over 25 times the rate of Alaska.

The stakes are high. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently predicted robots could be walking among us by 2027. Some analysts warn up to 300 million jobs could be replaced by AI, sparking concerns across classrooms and C-suites alike. Yet others believe superintelligence could usher in a new era of human progress and prosperity.

In the Classroom and at Work: Government data reveals 2.2 million Americans currently hold AI-intensive jobs, and AI-related college degrees have jumped 32% in five years. Experts stress the need for broader digital literacy and responsible AI integration in both education and industry.

From a global perspective, the AI race isn’t just economic—it's geopolitical. As the U.S. and China vie for dominance, regulation at the state level like Tennessee’s is increasingly viewed as a crucial component of national strategy.

Back home in Music City, the legislation speaks to the state's unique vulnerabilities. With Nashville’s booming entertainment industry, concerns over AI-cloned celebrity voices and unauthorized deepfakes have moved from theoretical to urgent.

As AI reshapes nearly every facet of daily life, Tennessee’s legislation marks a step toward protecting both creative rights and human dignity. Whether the state can rise in the ranks of AI readiness remains to be seen—but the message from the governor's office is clear: regulation is part of innovation