On January 20 U.S. President Donald Trump repealed a 2023 executive order by Joe Biden aimed at mitigating the risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) to consumers, workers, and national security. The decision marks a shift in U.S. policy on regulating AI development and deployment.
Biden’s executive order required developers of high-risk AI systems to conduct safety testing and share results with the U.S. government under the Defense Production Act before public release. It also tasked federal agencies with creating testing standards to address chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cybersecurity risks. Biden’s directive was part of a broader effort to establish safeguards in an industry largely unregulated by Congress.
Before Trump took office, he had long criticized the order on the campaign trail in 2024 for stifling AI innovation. Trump’s decision aligns with the Republican platform which currently advocates for AI development they say prioritizes the free market, free speech and human flourishing.
While Trump repealed Biden’s safety-focused AI order, he left intact a separate directive issued by Biden last week to support advanced AI data centers. That order provides federal resources to address the significant energy demands of these facilities, including leasing Department of Defense and Department of Energy sites for their development.
The repeal reignites debate over how best to balance AI innovation with public safety in the U.S.. Advocates for regulation argue that safeguards are necessary to protect against misuse, while opponents warn that overregulation could hinder technological progress in a rapidly evolving field.
If you would like to hear a non-political deep dive into the future of AI governance under the new Trump administration, please check out THIS episode of Lunchtime BABLing.
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