TechnologyJune 16, 2026
laissez-faire
/ˌleɪseɪˈfɛər/
Definition
A policy or attitude of minimal government interference in the affairs of a particular industry or economy.
Etymology
The term is a direct borrowing of the French phrase 'laissez faire,' which translates literally to 'let [them] do' or 'let [them] act.' It originated in 18th-century France as a political and economic philosophy advocating for free-market capitalism without state involvement.
In the news
In this article, the term refers to the Trump administration's initial promise of a 'light-touch' regulatory approach to AI. Industry advocates fear this hands-off strategy is failing due to the government's sudden, restrictive intervention against the company Anthropic.
Trump promised to bring order to AI oversight. That lasted 2 weeks.
Read the full article ↗Politico