US President Donald Trump Revokes Biden’s Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence

A Shift in Priorities for the Private Sector

In a significant move, US President Donald Trump has revoked former President Joe Biden’s 2023 executive order aimed at putting security guardrails around artificial intelligence (AI) systems and their potential impact on national security. This decision has given a major boost to private sector companies like OpenAI, Oracle, and Softbank, which have collectively pledged to spend up to $600 billion on building out AI infrastructure in the US.

Background: Biden’s AI Executive Order

Biden’s AI executive order required developers of AI and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to develop safety standards and share results with the federal government to help prevent AI-powered cyberattacks against citizens, critical infrastructure, dangerous biological weapons, and other areas affecting US national security.

Private Sector Response

For now, the new administration is ready to leave the task of developing AI with adequate safety controls in private sector hands. Adam Kentosh at Digital.ai says he is confident they are up to the task.

"The rapid pace of AI development makes it essential to strike a balance between innovation and security. While this balance is critical, the responsibility likely falls more on individual corporations than on the federal government to ensure that industries adopt thoughtful, secure practices in AI development," Kentosh says. "By doing so, we can avoid a scenario where government intervention becomes necessary."

Concerns About Private Sector Oversight

However, not everyone is convinced that the private sector can be trusted to develop AI with adequate safety controls. Shier expresses concerns that private enterprise should not be allowed to govern themselves or be trusted to develop under their own standards for ethical use.

"There has to be guardrails provided that don’t stifle smaller companies from participating in innovation but still allow for some oversight and accountability. This is especially true in instances where public safety or national security is at risk or has the potential to cause risk," Shier stresses.