Trump Reverses Biden's AI Executive Order On First Day Back In Office

According to Cointelegraph, US President Donald Trump swiftly revoked several executive orders from former President Joe Biden, including a comprehensive order on artificial intelligence (AI), on his first day back in the White House. The January 20th list of presidential actions included the repeal of Biden's 2023 executive order, which had established standards for AI safety and security. This order required AI developers to share safety test information with the government. Trump criticized Biden's AI regulations, labeling them as overly restrictive and detrimental to technological innovation. He argued that such regulations stifle creativity and economic growth. The Republican Party's 2024 platform echoed this sentiment, describing Biden's order as an obstacle to AI innovation. The platform advocates for AI development that supports free speech and human flourishing. Prominent tech executives, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, and Google's Sundar Pichai, were present at Trump's inauguration on January 20th. This event underscored the tech industry's alignment with Trump's stance on AI regulation. Meanwhile, US companies are accelerating their AI initiatives, with Microsoft announcing in September the establishment of two AI centers in Abu Dhabi, marking significant AI investments in 2024. Biden's executive order, signed in October 2023, had outlined a framework for AI with six primary points, focusing on ethical AI use in government, citizen privacy practices, and consumer privacy protection. The order also included reporting mechanisms for companies and guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology to help identify biases in language models. Alondra Nelson, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, expressed concern over Trump's repeal of the order, calling it "self-defeating for our country" without a thoughtful replacement. She warned that this move could leave the American public vulnerable to AI risks and unable to benefit from its potential advantages. Alexander Nowrasteh, an analyst at the Cato Institute, commented on social media that retaining some sections of the order would have been beneficial, particularly those easing AI worker immigration. He noted that conservative supporters of skilled immigration have suffered a setback with the repeal. In the final days of the Biden administration, a framework was proposed to impose cap and licensing restrictions on AI semiconductor sales to all but 18 US allies and partners. This decision faced backlash from the tech industry, which feared it would hinder innovation and weaken America's leadership in the sector.