Former President Trump recently stated on his campaign platform that if elected again, he would repeal the executive order on artificial intelligence (AI) signed by current President Biden. Trump described this order as "dangerous," hindering innovation in AI technology and containing what he called "extreme leftist ideologies." Trump's promise has drawn widespread attention as it could mean that future AI development might face less regulation.
Image source: Image generated by AI, provided by Midjourney
The Biden administration signed the existing AI regulatory measures in October 2023 under the 1950 National Defense Act, requiring tech companies to conduct so-called "red team tests" when developing large AI models and report the results to the federal government to assess the safety and potential risks of these models. Trump and his supporters believe that this process not only slows down the development of AI but also forces companies to disclose their trade secrets.
In addition, Biden's executive order also requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to provide guidance to ensure that AI models do not contain biases related to race or gender. Trump and his supporters view this requirement as "radical leftist ideology."
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, closely associated with Trump, has also criticized large AI models, believing that some, like ChatGPT, are too "woke." Musk has recently launched his own AI startup project aimed at promoting technology that "understands the universe." As a major supporter and donor of Trump, Musk's interests in relaxing AI regulation are evident.
Trump's election could mean more deregulation for the tech industry, especially in the cryptocurrency sector. Although the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) continued antitrust lawsuits against large tech companies like Google and Amazon during Trump's first term, Trump has recently expressed skepticism about these actions, particularly the Biden-led Department of Justice's attempt to break Google's monopoly in the search engine market.
It is currently unclear how Trump plans to replace Biden's AI executive order, as his campaign platform has not provided detailed policy plans, only mentioning that there will be a relaxation of regulation. However, it is foreseeable that future AI development might enter a more laissez-faire era, which is indeed concerning for a technology with the potential to disrupt human society.
Key Points:
🌐 Trump promises to repeal Biden's AI regulatory measures, calling it a "dangerous" executive order.
🔍 Biden's AI regulations require tech companies to conduct risk assessments and report test results; Trump believes this will slow technological progress.
🤖 Musk, closely related to Trump, could benefit from relaxed regulation through his AI projects.