“American leadership is needed to harness the transformative power of technology for our economy and broader society.” – Carrie Sheffield

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Artificial intelligence and technology are rapidly transforming how Americans work, learn, and live. The policies shaping these innovations will determine whether they create a future with more opportunity or less.

Today, Independent Women announced the launch of its Center for AI and Technology, a bold new initiative to ensure the United States leads the world in innovation while protecting the interests of Americans—especially women navigating the frontlines of technological change.

As AI accelerates, it raises urgent questions around privacy and security, as well as economic opportunity as it rapidly changes the workplace. These challenges require smart policy solutions without stifling innovation or slowing American leadership.

“We are excited to launch the Independent Women’s Center for AI and Technology. American leadership is needed to harness the transformative power of technology for our economy and broader society. We believe in technology’s power to unleash human creativity, expand opportunity, and improve our lives. New technologies like AI present challenges that thoughtful policy can address without a heavy-handed approach that hampers innovation,” said Carrie Sheffield, director of the Center for AI and Technology. 

“It is imperative for the U.S. to lead the world in AI development and adoption. Grounded in free-enterprise principles, we believe that industries should be free to produce and invest in goods and services for society and for entrepreneurs to innovate, free from burdensome laws and regulations or unfair foreign trade restrictions. Our center also corrects public misunderstandings about technology development while protecting Americans’ interests in safety, privacy, and economic stability.” 

“Artificial intelligence is one of the most transformative forces of our time, and the choices we make now will shape the future of opportunity in America,” said Patrice Onwuka, vice president of economic policy at Independent Women. “We need policies that protect families and consumers while preserving the freedom to innovate—because if the U.S. doesn’t lead in AI, someone else will. And for American women balancing work, family, and economic opportunity, the stakes couldn’t be higher.” 

The center’s areas of work include: 

  • Artificial Intelligence: Developing AI federal, state, and local governance frameworks ensuring security and privacy, parental rights, and safe, strategic education and workforce integration.
  • Financial Services: Unleashing competition and consumer safety to fuel our digital economy, including online lending and banking, cryptocurrency, and blockchain. 
  • Healthcare & Science Policy: Reforming research enterprise, healthcare policy, scientific integrity standards, federal R&D grant modernization, and talent pipeline development.
  • Telecommunications, Energy & Infrastructure: Addressing foundational infrastructure, including broadband/spectrum access policy, data centers, and advocating for energy abundance for American technology. 

SUPPORTING NATIONAL AI FRAMEWORK

In March, Independent Women’s Voice authored a letter in support of the White House’s National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence Legislative Recommendations. 

The framework prioritizes protecting children and families through parental safeguards, expanding AI education and workforce training, and preventing unauthorized AI-generated digital replicas.

In the letter, Carrie Sheffield, director of the Center for AI and Technology, and Patrice Onwuka, vice president for economic policy, wrote, “The White House’s National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence offers Congress a clear, principled, and pro-growth path forward. It protects children, empowers families, supports workers and entrepreneurs, [and] defends civil liberties while creating the stable national framework needed for American AI leadership. For American women, the stakes could not be higher.”

Read Independent Women’s recent work towards a more innovative future:

Independent Women, described as a “30+ year old titan of policy innovation,” continues to expand its leadership across policy areas. The Center for AI and Technology joins Independent Women’s existing centers, including: 

For media inquiries and booking requests, please email [email protected]. 

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