Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken a bold step in the rapidly unfolding debate over artificial intelligence. His proposal for a Citizen Bill of Rights for AI is not fear-mongering, nor is it a rejection of innovation. It is a commonsense affirmation that AI exists to serve humans, not the other way around. In an age where Silicon Valley increasingly treats AI as a panacea capable of replacing human judgment, creativity, and responsibility, DeSantis' stance is both timely and necessary.
At the heart of his argument is a simple but profound idea: humans are not optional. DeSantis calls himself a "human exceptionalist," and he's right to do so. There is a strain of thinking in Big Tech and policy circles that treats AI as some kind of magical problem-solver, capable of curing diseases, managing economies, and even handling governance—while humans sit back and enjoy leisure. It sounds utopian, even appealing on the surface, but it is a recipe for societal disaster. Machines do not understand human values, community cohesion, or moral responsibility. They do not raise families, vote thoughtfully, or uphold the social contract.
DeSantis is also correct to call out the profit-driven incentives of Big Tech. Corporations designing AI are not primarily concerned with societal well-being. They are concerned with return on investment. Tools that maximise engagement, manipulate behaviour, or exploit personal data are far more profitable than tools designed to enhance human life or strengthen communities. Left unchecked, AI becomes a mechanism for amplifying corporate power at the expense of individual liberty and societal stability.
The governor's Citizen Bill of Rights addresses these dangers head-on. It is carefully targeted at the ways AI could erode privacy, security, and civic autonomy. The legislation would protect Floridians from deep fakes and explicit material, prohibit state use of foreign AI tools like DeepSeek, restrict the use of individuals' names and images without consent, and ensure AI cannot be used as a replacement for licensed professionals in fields like therapy or mental health. These are practical safeguards, not arbitrary restrictions. They recognize that AI has real potential for harm if not properly constrained.
Parental protections are another key component. AI interacts increasingly with minors, from chatbots to educational tools. DeSantis' plan would give parents oversight of their children's AI interactions, allow them to set parameters, and receive alerts if concerning behaviour emerges. This is not just about data privacy; it is about upholding parental authority, family integrity, and the responsible development of young minds in a digital era.
The legislation also addresses corporate and bureaucratic overreach. Insurers could not use AI as the sole determiner of claims, companies could not monetize private data without consent, and consumers would be notified whenever interacting with AI systems. These rules are grounded in one central principle: AI must enhance human life, not replace human judgment or responsibility.
Critics of DeSantis may argue that regulation stifles innovation. But this is a false choice. True innovation occurs when technology operates within a framework that protects human dignity, liberty, and social stability. AI should augment human decision-making, not undermine it. Without clear guardrails, we risk surrendering crucial aspects of our lives—personal privacy, professional expertise, family autonomy, and civic responsibility, to algorithms designed to maximise profit, not human flourishing.
DeSantis' vision is a stark rebuttal to the notion of AI exceptionalism. Technology is powerful, but its purpose is not to replace us. It should never dictate our moral decisions, replace parental authority, or substitute for human judgment in professions requiring empathy, understanding, and ethical reasoning. Citizens, families, and communities must remain at the centre. AI is a tool, and tools are only valuable when they serve people.
In short, DeSantis' Citizen Bill of Rights for AI is more than just policy; it is a declaration of values. It affirms that humans, not machines, are the measure of a society worth defending. AI must work for us, not the other way around. It must enhance life, strengthen families, protect privacy, and uphold human responsibility. This is a vision for a future in which technology is a servant, not a master, a future that puts people first, before profit, before algorithms, and before utopian fantasies of a machine-run society.
We can embrace innovation without surrendering our humanity. We can welcome AI while insisting it respects human dignity and autonomy. DeSantis' plan is a blueprint for that balance, a call to ensure that the next generation of technology strengthens society rather than undermining it.
AI is here to serve us. It must never serve itself. It must never serve the interests of corporate profit over human life. And it must never replace the responsibility, judgment, and moral compass of the people it was created to help. Florida, under DeSantis' vision, is taking a stand: humans first, always!