In a recent move that’s ruffling feathers across the tech and political landscapes, President Trump has officially issued an order to withdraw the AI risk directives introduced by Biden in 2023. Biden’s original decree was all about tightening the reins on AI technologies, purportedly as a means to ensure safety and ethical adherence. But the Republicans shot it down, slamming it as a roadblock to innovation. Trump’s bold stroke undeniably throws the spotlight once again on the stark divide between the two major parties when it comes to tech regulation.
In 2023, President Biden delivered an executive order that’s sent ripples across the AI sector. According to the order, any business developing AI systems that could potentially threaten U.S. national security, the economy, public health, or safety must now, per the guidance of the Defense Production Act, submit their safety test results for a governmental check-up before going public. Moreover, this directive insists that relevant institutions set up testing standards and handle risks related to chemical, biological, nuclear, and cybersecurity. However, amid a backdrop of inaction from the U.S. Congress on passing a dedicated AI regulatory bill, this order has stepped into the spotlight as the sole federal guideline regulating the AI landscape.
The 2024 Republican National Convention’s platform made it crystal clear: axing Biden’s executive order is a top priority, claiming it’s stifling AI innovation. The GOP is all in on charting a course for AI development that not only champions free speech but also boosts human well-being.
As generative AI takes the world by storm, especially with its rapid strides in text, image, and video creation, there’s a growing buzz—and a bit of buzzkill—about its impact on jobs and other potential downsides. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Commerce has put the brakes on by imposing new export restrictions on AI chips and related tech. This move has sparked a fiery backlash from tech giants, including Nvidia, who are anything but thrilled about these constraints. Whether this is a precautionary tale or a possible prelude to stifling innovation, the scene is set for a showdown in Silicon Valley and beyond.
Despite revoking Biden’s major AI executive order, Trump has chosen to retain another recent mandate signed by Biden. This particular order aims to bolster the rapidly expanding AI data centers by ensuring energy support and urges the Defense and Energy Departments to release federal land for leasing purposes to these data centers.
