Trump’s AI Executive Order Will Prioritize Military AI and Reducing Regulations

Trump allies draft sweeping AI executive order to prioritize military AI and reduce regulations if Trump returns to power in 2025.

Key Takeaways: The draft order, titled “Make America First in AI,” outlines a significant shift in AI policy under a potential second Trump administration:

• It calls for “Manhattan Projects” to advance military AI capabilities and an immediate review of “unnecessary and burdensome regulations” on AI development.
• This approach contrasts with the Biden administration’s executive order from last October, which imposed new safety testing requirements on advanced AI systems.
• The proposed order suggests creating “industry-led” agencies to evaluate AI models and safeguard systems from foreign threats, likely benefiting tech companies already collaborating with the Pentagon on AI projects.

Changing Political Winds: The draft order reflects the changing political landscape in Silicon Valley and the Republican party’s stance on AI:

• Former Trump officials at the America First Policy Institute played a key role in crafting the draft order, signaling potential policy shifts under a second Trump administration.
• The Republican party’s official 2024 platform calls for repealing Biden’s AI executive order and supporting “AI Development rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.”
• Some tech executives and venture capitalists who previously backed Democrats now support Trump, with billionaire VCs Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz pledging donations to Trump’s election effort.

Trump’s Running Mate and AI: Trump’s announcement of Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate for the 2024 election has energized supporters of rapid AI development:

• Vance, known for his venture capital background and ties to Silicon Valley figures, has voiced opposition to AI regulation and criticized Big Tech companies for promoting government oversight.
• Vance has also expressed support for open source AI in the past, adding complexity to the picture.

Broader Implications: The draft executive order and the evolving political landscape surrounding AI highlight the increasingly politicized nature of the technology:

• AI has eclipsed its technical roots to become more of an idea than a technology, with beliefs ranging from creating godlike entities to the destruction of humanity in sci-fi scenarios or wasteful environmental harm.
• As battle lines are drawn, AI is already deeply political, and the proposed executive order is a stark reminder of the potential for significant policy shifts depending on the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
• The implications of a hands-off, military-focused approach to AI development under a second Trump administration could have far-reaching consequences for the future of AI and its impact on society.