The need for a president who understands AI is becoming increasingly urgent as the technology rapidly advances and tech leaders make grandiose, unverifiable promises about its potential impact.
Key takeaways: Despite the current limitations of AI, it is poised to significantly change many aspects of our lives in the coming years, making it crucial for the next U.S. president to have a deep understanding of the technology and its implications:
- The policies and regulations set by the next administration will have lasting impacts on how AI is developed and deployed, as well as the responsibilities and liabilities of companies in the industry.
- A president who can distinguish between realistic assessments of AI’s capabilities and exaggerated claims made by tech leaders is essential for developing sound policies grounded in reality.
Shifting narratives from tech leaders: As the limitations of current AI systems become more widely acknowledged, major tech companies are now focusing on long-term, grandiose promises that are impossible to verify:
- OpenAI’s Sam Altman claimed AI would “discover all of physics” and potentially “double the world’s GDP,” while Microsoft’s AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman suggested the cost of knowledge production would go to zero within 15 years.
- These claims are not supported by evidence and wildly extrapolate beyond what is currently possible, taking advantage of the public’s fascination with techno-utopian visions.
The urgency of effective AI policy: The U.S. has a limited window of opportunity to establish a comprehensive and effective framework for AI governance, making it critical for the next president to prioritize this issue:
- Executive orders alone are insufficient; the president must work with Congress to develop legislation that addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.
- Resisting regulatory capture and standing up to the influence of big tech companies will be essential for ensuring that AI policies serve the public interest rather than corporate agendas.
Analyzing deeper: The lack of substantive discussion about AI in the recent presidential debate highlights the disconnect between the rapid advancement of the technology and the understanding of its implications among political leaders. As AI continues to progress, it will become increasingly important for presidents and other policymakers to have a deep, native understanding of the technology in order to navigate the complex challenges and opportunities it presents. Failure to do so could result in misguided policies that fail to protect the public interest or hinder the responsible development of AI. It is crucial that the next president prioritizes building expertise in this area and surrounds themselves with advisors who can provide informed guidance on AI policy.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...