The Trump administration has unveiled a sweeping new AI policy blueprint aimed at securing U.S. dominance in the global AI race, particularly in competition with China.
The 28-page plan Winning the AI Race: America’s AI Action Plan, was released Tuesday and outlined more than 90 federal actions under President Trump’s January executive order to dismantle regulatory barriers and accelerate innovation.
The document counters many of the AI initiatives from the previous Biden administration, which emphasized regulation, safeguards and export controls on advanced technologies like semiconductors. Trump’s initiative instead focuses on deregulation, infrastructure expansion and exporting American AI technology abroad.
According to the new statement, the White House will be working to “dismantle unnecessary regulatory barriers” that hinder AI development in the private sector.
“The United States is in a race to achieve global dominance in AI,” the document reads. “Whoever has the largest AI ecosystem will set global AI standards and reap broad economic and military benefits…it is imperative that the United States and its allies win this race.”
The new action plan is based around three pillars: innovation, infrastructure and international diplomacy and security.
Related:Trump Revokes Biden AI Policy, Signs Executive Order to Strengthen AI Leadership
Under the sections, key proposals include exporting American AI, with the Commerce and State departments expected to collaborate with private industry to create secure AI export packages (including hardware, software, models and standards) for allied nations.
Streamlining infrastructure projects and removing regulatory barriers were also outlined as key initiatives.
The plan also moves to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion and climate change initiatives from federal AI programs.
“We need to build and maintain vast AI infrastructure and the energy to power it. To do that, we will continue to reject radical climate dogma and bureaucratic red tape, as the administration has done since Inauguration Day,” the document continued. “Simply put, we need to “Build, Baby, Build!”
Industry response
Immediate industry response to the plan was mixed, with some praising the bullish nature of the strategy, while others cautioned about the removal of regulatory safeguards.
“Since day one, President Trump has made it his top priority to put American workers first by expanding opportunity and ensuring all are prepared for the challenges of the future,” U.S. secretary of labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in a statement provided to AI Business. “By boosting AI literacy and investing in skills training, we’re equipping hardworking Americans with the tools they need to lead and succeed in this new era.”
Related:Trump to launch ‘American AI Initiative’
Similarly, deputy secretary of labor Keith Sonderling said the plan demonstrates “bold leadership” and paves the way for a new era of U.S. economic prosperity.
Ali Reza Manouchehri, CEO and co-founder of AI-enabled services company MetroStar told AI Business the plan signals a “pivotal moment” in the U.S.’s AI industry.
“The White House’s Executive Orders and AI Action Plan send a clear signal: The U.S. is committed to building not just better models, but the next-generation infrastructure to support AI-native industries for decades to come,” Manouchehri said. “Initiatives like Project Stargate lay the foundation for a sovereign compute and innovation backbone, enabling American companies to build at scale, securely and ahead of global competition.”
Others have been less optimistic about the plan’s proposals. Ben Winters, director of AI and privacy at the Consumer Federation of America, said in a statement that the move will work to disadvantage consumers.
“Whether it’s promoting the use of federal land for dirty data centers, giving the FTC orders to question past cases or attempting to revive some version of the soundly defeated AI moratorium by tying federal funds to not having ‘onerous regulation’ according to the FCC, this is an unwelcome distraction at a critical time for government to get consumer protection right with increasing AI use and abuse,” he said.
Source: AI BUSINESS
