On July 17, ACT | The App Association sponsored a lively happy hour hosted by App Association member Capitol CNCT, drawing more than 150 attendees, including Hill staffers and leaders from across the tech and policy landscape. In a relaxed social atmosphere, over drinks and snacks, folks discussed how smart AI policymaking can support American innovation.

The evening began with remarks from the App Association President, Morgan Reed, who emphasized the urgency of regulatory humility and restraint when it comes to AI. He called on Congress to first look at how existing laws apply to AI before lurching forward with legislation and highlighted the pivotal role of voluntary, consensus-based standards and the need for frameworks that empower small innovators to thrive.

“AI is not just about big models or big tech,” said Reed. “It’s about empowering the developers and entrepreneurs in your districts who are already solving problems with these tools, so let’s make sure policy keeps the path open for them.”

 

In addition to fostering connections, the event also promoted the App Association’s latest white paper, Antitrust at a Crossroads: Protecting Innovation in the AI Era, which outlines a risk-based framework for competition policy in AI markets.

The paper makes the case that while AI markets are dynamic and highly competitive, proposed antitrust interventions often rest on outdated assumptions and risk slowing the very innovation they seek to protect. Among its recommendations:

  • Apply existing laws to AI-related conduct rather than racing to create new, AI-specific prohibitions.
  • Preserve acquisition pathways and access to capital for early-stage companies.
  • Avoid per se (automatic, without considering context) bans that ignore the real structure of rapidly evolving AI ecosystems.

 

Policy, Pints, and the Future of AI brought together perspectives from industry, law, and government in a format that was as substantive as it was social, proof that serious policy conversations don’t always need a podium.

 

We’re thankful to our partners at Capitol CNCT and to everyone who joined us. As state legislatures and federal agencies weigh their next steps on AI governance, we’ll continue to advocate for policies that recognize how AI is being used and built by the small businesses driving the future.