US President 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 Towards Accelerating 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. "The AI future is not going to be won by hand-wringing about safety," Vice President JD Vance told world leaders at a recent AI summit in Paris.
Global Response to the Policy Changes
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. 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.
Industry Leaders' Policy Vision
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 on AI Regulation
OpenAI's submission highlights the competitive threat posed by Chinese-developed generative AI models and emphasizes the importance of protecting American AI development. The company argues that AI development should be "protected from both autocratic powers that would take people's freedoms away, and layers of laws and bureaucracy that would prevent our realizing them."
Responses from Tech Giants
Google, Meta, and other major tech companies have also submitted responses, advocating for minimal oversight and significant investment in AI infrastructure to maintain America's technological leadership in the AI race against China.
Despite the push for minimal oversight, industry observers caution that generative AI carries inherent risks, with or without government regulation.
This article was originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
