Donald Trump and AI Governance
Following the conclusion of the latest election cycle, the return of Donald Trump to the White House is expected to significantly alter how artificial intelligence (AI) industries are governed. Trump, who is slated to assume the presidency as the 47th leader of the United States, may lead a Republican-dominated Senate, and potentially a Republican-majority House as well. He has signaled a departure from the AI strategies put in place by the preceding administration under Joe Biden.
Reevaluation of Biden’s AI Strategy
Though the AI sector has typically been skeptical of federal regulation, those criticizing the AI Executive Order (AI EO) announced by the Biden administration in October 2023 might see their issues addressed. Trump has unveiled plans to revoke the AI framework established by Biden, which was initially set in motion as an executive order due to the lack of Congressional action regarding AI governance. This directive, albeit non-mandatory, covered a spectrum of AI-related issues, from enhancing healthcare to offering directives on combatting intellectual property theft.
Biden’s AI EO included stipulations like mandating developers of advanced AI algorithms to disclose their training procedures, security measures, and findings from any vulnerability assessments conducted. Additionally, it charged the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with crafting standards to reveal and resolve flaws in these models, such as ingrained biases.
Despite the contributions of the AI EO, such as forging the U.S. AI Safety Institute (AISI) and forging collaborations with AI academic bodies, detractors in Trump’s circle argue that these reporting mandates infringe on autonomy and could stifle innovative efforts. Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) noted during a House hearing that these stipulations might deter emerging innovators and hinder advancements similar to those seen with technologies like ChatGPT.
JD Vance, who joined Trump on the campaign trail, has voiced concern over possible ‘preemptive overregulation’ within the tech sphere, which could reinforce the power of existing tech giants. On a different front, a faction of Republicans have accused NIST of exploiting AI to suppress conservative views, emphasizing the political rift over the role of AI in the public domain.
Trump has campaigned for an “AI development agenda anchored in the principles of free speech and the nurturing of human well-being,” while also acknowledging the underlying risks associated with AI, including its potential hazards and energy consumption. Political scientist Sarah Kreps has speculated that substantial AI regulatory reforms are unlikely within Trump’s upcoming tenure.
Localized Efforts and Global Trade Influences
Amidst this federal recalibration, states such as California have taken the initiative in crafting their own AI regulations, forecasting a continuation of such proactive measures. Academics like Dean Ball from George Mason University predict that state-level authorities may attempt to fill the gap left by a more relaxed federal stance.
Hamid Ekbia from Syracuse University suggests that Trump’s favoring of protectionist policies could have repercussions for global AI regulation, notably through increased export restrictions on Chinese entities. These moves could stifle international collaboration in AI governance and encourage more autocratic applications of AI. Proposed trade measures by Trump, including levies on imports and goods produced in China, could also heavily influence the economy, especially in terms of AI research and development.
