On January 22, 2026, House Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA) and Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) introduced H.R. 7209, a bipartisan bill that could significantly reshape the relationship between copyright law and artificial intelligence. Known as the Transparency and Responsibility for Artificial Intelligence Networks (TRAIN) Act, the proposal seeks to give copyright owners a clearer path to understanding whether—and how—their works are being used to train generative AI models.

[Originally posted to LinkedIn on January 14, 2026 and reposted here for archival purposes.]

What’s new?  What’s news?

Let me say at the outset that I do not have the answer.  I only have a question.  This essay is my Jeopardy!-ish contribution to the second-most important conversation happening in Pittsburgh right now.  Maybe that’s appropriate;