The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of the U.S. government has recently announced plans to review existing federal regulations using artificial intelligence technology, aiming to eliminate up to 100,000 regulations to enhance government efficiency and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. Officials have indicated that the earliest completion date for this initiative is expected to be in September.

Over the past few decades, the number of regulations in the U.S. has increased year after year as government functions have expanded, leading to many legal texts becoming overly complex, redundant, and often misaligned with current societal needs. Consequently, the OMB has begun seeking to utilize AI technology for a comprehensive regulatory cleanup.

The plan involves inputting all existing federal regulation data into an AI system that can analyze the interconnections, redundancies, and the regulations' impacts on the economy and society. AI will also assist in proposing which regulations can be eliminated or modified for better governance outcomes.

According to OMB's plan, the work will be conducted in several phases, beginning with the collection and organization of all existing regulatory data, followed by analysis using AI tools, and concluding with expert reviews from relevant departments to confirm which regulations can be rescinded or amended.

This systematic process aims not only to reduce redundant regulations but also to promote economic development through simplification. Initial estimates suggest that the reduction of regulations will help small businesses and new startups face fewer administrative barriers.

The U.S. government has drafted a detailed list of regulations, committing to publicly announce it after completing the cleanup to allow for feedback from the public and interested parties. This initiative aims to ensure that the regulations removed are not only effective for the government but also friendly to citizens.

This movement has sparked lively discussions nationwide, with supporters arguing that this presents a valuable opportunity for government reform using new technologies, whereas opponents express concerns that such actions might adversely affect environmental and social justice.

In addition to the so-called “subtractive” strategy, the OMB also plans to utilize AI for dynamic monitoring of regulations for timely adjustments and updates to ensure they remain responsive to emerging social and economic changes.

This initiative is expected to lead to a significant transformation in the field of public administration in the United States, providing a reference for other countries on how to effectively leverage technology to improve government operations.