Trump Vows to Repeal Biden’s AI Policy: Meaning for the Industry

Trump Vows to Repeal Biden’s AI Policy: Meaning for the Industry \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to repeal President Joe Biden’s AI executive order, raising questions about the future of U.S. artificial intelligence policy. Meanwhile, experts and officials from global allies are meeting in San Francisco to advance AI safety measures, including combatting deepfakes and fraud. The Biden administration’s AI Safety Institute is a central focus, though its fate under Trump remains unclear.

Trump Vows to Overturn Biden’s AI Policy Amid Global Push for AI Safety: Quick Looks

• Trump’s Repeal Promise: President-elect Trump plans to dismantle Biden’s AI executive order but offers few specifics.
• Biden’s AI Safety Framework: Policies include creating an AI Safety Institute and setting voluntary safety standards.
• Global AI Conference: Officials from major nations and the EU meet in San Francisco to tackle AI safety issues.
• Industry Backing: Big Tech, including Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, largely supports Biden’s balanced AI strategy.
• Generative AI’s Impact: Public fascination with tools like ChatGPT has intensified global focus on AI safety.
• Elon Musk’s Role: As Trump adviser, Musk may influence AI policy, holding strong opinions on AI risks and industry leaders.

Deep Look

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to repeal President Joe Biden’s signature artificial intelligence (AI) executive order, potentially reshaping the United States’ approach to this transformative technology. While Trump has criticized Biden’s policies as a hindrance to innovation, he has yet to specify what changes he would implement or how his administration would handle existing AI safety measures.

This announcement comes as global leaders and experts gather in San Francisco for an AI safety conference hosted by the Biden administration. The event highlights the urgency of addressing the challenges posed by rapidly advancing AI technologies like generative AI, which have fueled both public fascination and concern.

Trump’s Promise: Repeal and Replace?

Trump has called Biden’s AI executive order “dangerous” and accused it of embedding “Radical Leftwing ideas” into the development of AI. His campaign platform criticized the order but provided little detail about his specific objections or plans.

The executive order, signed last year, directs federal agencies to prioritize AI safety and development while fostering innovation. It also established the AI Safety Institute under the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), a division of the Commerce Department.

Critics of Trump’s position worry that repealing the order could disrupt the bipartisan progress made in AI safety research and regulatory frameworks. Trump’s transition team has not clarified whether the AI Safety Institute would remain intact under his administration.

Biden’s AI Policy in Focus

Biden’s AI executive order has received cautious praise from industry leaders for its balanced approach. The administration has prioritized voluntary safety standards, emphasizing collaboration with tech giants like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has led efforts to codify these standards into law, seeking to ensure continuity regardless of political transitions.

The AI Safety Institute has spearheaded initiatives to combat deepfakes, fraud, and other risks associated with AI technologies. It also works on advancing technical standards to improve the transparency and accountability of AI systems.

International AI Safety Meeting

This week’s AI safety conference in San Francisco highlights the global stakes of regulating artificial intelligence. Officials from allies including the United Kingdom, Japan, Kenya, Singapore, and the European Union are deliberating measures to ensure AI technologies are used responsibly.

Key topics include addressing the flood of AI-generated deepfakes used for fraud, impersonation, and other malicious purposes. The conference builds on commitments made at an AI summit in South Korea earlier this year, where world leaders agreed to create a network of publicly supported AI safety institutes.

Singapore’s deputy secretary of digital development, Hong Yuen Poon, stressed the importance of international cooperation, particularly in supporting resource-limited nations. “A helping-one-another mindset is important,” he said, highlighting the need for inclusive global progress on AI safety.

Industry and Experts React

Despite Trump’s criticisms, some experts believe that the foundational work of the AI Safety Institute will continue under any administration. Heather West, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, argued that bipartisan overlap on AI safety priorities makes a drastic shift unlikely.

“There’s no reason to believe that we’ll be doing a 180 when it comes to the work of the AI Safety Institute,” West said, emphasizing the importance of technical progress in mitigating AI risks.

Generative AI’s Role in Shaping Policy

The landscape of AI policy has changed dramatically since the introduction of ChatGPT in late 2022. The tool’s ability to generate human-like text sparked a surge in generative AI technologies, raising concerns about their potential misuse. These developments have heightened the urgency for robust regulatory frameworks and international collaboration.

During Trump’s first term, AI was not a central focus of his administration, though he signed an executive order in 2019 prioritizing AI research and development. In his final weeks in office, Trump also signed an order promoting the use of “trustworthy” AI in federal agencies—policies that carried over into the Biden administration.

Elon Musk’s Influence on AI Policy

Tech mogul Elon Musk, now a key Trump adviser, could play a significant role in shaping the incoming administration’s AI strategy. Musk, who has long warned about the risks of AI, has been critical of some industry leaders, particularly OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.

Musk’s involvement adds another layer of complexity to Trump’s AI policy. As the head of a new government cost-cutting commission, Musk’s views on AI regulation and development could influence decisions about the future of the AI Safety Institute and related initiatives.

Challenges and Opportunities

The evolving AI landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for policymakers. On one hand, generative AI technologies have unlocked new possibilities for innovation and economic growth. On the other, they have introduced risks such as misinformation, privacy violations, and cyber threats.

As the U.S. grapples with these issues, the direction of its AI policy will have far-reaching implications for global competitiveness and technological leadership. Trump’s pledge to repeal Biden’s executive order underscores the ideological divide over how best to balance innovation with regulation.

Conclusion

Trump’s vow to dismantle Biden’s AI policies reflects his broader commitment to undoing the current administration’s initiatives. However, with generative AI reshaping industries and global leaders prioritizing safety, the stakes for maintaining a cohesive AI strategy have never been higher.

Whether Trump retains or replaces key elements of Biden’s framework, the future of AI policy will depend on balancing innovation, regulation, and international cooperation in an era of rapid technological change.

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