Trump's call for AI deregulation gets strong backing from Big Tech ...
Major tech firms are pushing the administration of President Donald Trump to loosen rules on building artificial intelligence, arguing it is the only way to maintain a US edge and compete with China. Spooked by generative AI's sudden advance, governments initially scrambled to develop guardrails, as major tech companies rapidly integrated the technology into their products.
Shifting Focus on AI Development
Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has shifted focus toward accelerating AI development at all costs, pushing aside concerns about the models suffering hallucinations, producing deepfakes, or destroying human jobs. Vice President JD Vance told world leaders at a recent AI summit in Paris that "The AI future is not going to be won by hand-wringing about safety."
This message unsettled international partners, particularly Europe, which had proudly established the EU AI Act as a new standard for keeping the technology in check. But faced with America's new direction, European officials are now pivoting their messaging toward investment and innovation rather than safety.
Industry Response
Tech companies are capitalizing on this regulatory retreat, seeking the freedom to develop AI technologies that they claim have been too constrained under the Biden administration. One of Trump's first executive actions was dismantling Biden's policies, which had proposed modest guardrails for powerful AI models and directed agencies to prepare to oversee the change.
The Trump administration has invited industry leaders to share their policy vision, emphasizing that the US must maintain its position as the "undeniable leader in AI technology" with minimal investor constraints. The industry submissions will shape the White House's AI action plan, expected this summer.
OpenAI's Stance
OpenAI's submission emphasizes the competitive threat posed by Chinese-developed generative AI models and advocates for protecting American AI development from both autocratic powers and excessive regulation. The company argues that restricting access to online data would concede the AI race to China.
Another response submitted by a group of Hollywood celebrities rejected the notion, reflecting the film and television industry's contentious relationship with the technology. Meta touted its open Llama AI model as part of the fight for American technological superiority, while Google focused on infrastructure investment for AI's substantial energy requirements.
Despite the push for minimal oversight, industry observers caution that generative AI carries inherent risks, with or without government regulation. Companies have no choice but to mitigate the dangers to avoid negative public relations outcomes.
