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When a major agro state moves faster than Congress on AI regulations, you know something’s up! Meanwhile, families are shrinking, divorces are soaring and the economy just won’t slow down

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AI REGULATION

As Congress stalls, a Brazilian agro state moves to regulate AI

Governor Ronaldo Caiado of Goiás: using AI to expand his brand, with one eye on next year’s presidential election. Photo: Rafa Neddermeyer/EBC

Governor Ronaldo Caiado of Goiás: using AI to expand his brand, with one eye on next year’s presidential election. Photo: Rafa Neddermeyer/EBC

While Brazil’s Congress inches forward on a national framework for artificial intelligence — with the lower house only now setting up a committee to debate a Senate-approved bill — the center-western state of Goiás has leapfrogged the process entirely.

Last week, state lawmakers passed Brazil’s first regional law regulating AI, positioning Goiás as a frontrunner in what many see as a critical technological race. The bill’s premise is clear: regulation should not smother innovation, but it must help Brazil avoid becoming a mere consumer of foreign-made AI.

👉 Why it matters. Unlike the federal bill — modeled largely on the European Union’s precautionary, risk-based approach — the Goiás law prioritizes open-source development, embraces a “regulation after deployment” model, and offers incentives for companies to set up AI infrastructure. The state plans to lure data centers with clean energy, particularly biogas from agricultural waste, and already boasts specific legislation on bioinputs.

This regulation system is not without its hazards. While the rapid deployment of AI brings promise — it also risks allowing harm to be caused before safeguards can be put in place. Waiting for damage before acting invites exploitation and unforeseen dangers — especially as Brazil still lacks the technical capacity to regulate effectively.

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