Fear of artificial intelligence is spreading fast. In the United States, momentum is building for a regulatory framework that would slow progress at the technological frontier.

Leaders of the industry sound partial to slowing down . The problem with this approach is that any effective regulation would create risks of its own. In particular, enforcing an AI slowdown would require an extraordinary expansion of the government’s surveillance and investigative powers. History shows that the risks of such an expansion might outweigh the very real risks of unregulated development.

Particular uses of AI can be regulated. Governments can prohibit fraud, protect privacy, enforce copyright and impose liability for damages.…