Representative Byron Donalds, a Florida Republican running for governor, spoke about artificial intelligence on the Overtime segment of HBO Real Time on Friday. He said regulation is required and that state governments will probably act sooner than Congress because Senate approval looks unlikely under present conditions.

Donalds said the technology’s benefits outweigh its dangers. He noted it accelerates medical research and lets officials detect waste in public programs far faster than earlier staffing allowed, which conserves money. He added that the technology cannot be undone and that coming rules must shield children, personal identities and appearances, and ordinary human life.