President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to change the US approach to the development of artificial intelligence, permanently reversing key policies of the Biden administration, AP News reports.
The executive order calls for the removal of what it describes as "barriers to American AI innovation," emphasizing that AI systems should be developed "free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas." The document orders a review of all policies, regulations, and executive orders adopted under former President Joe Biden's 2023 AI executive order, which Trump rescinded this week. Any actions that do not meet Trump's new goals should be suspended.
According to the White House, Biden-era policies imposed "unnecessarily burdensome requirements" on companies developing AI technologies, which the Trump administration claims held back the private sector and jeopardized US leadership in technology. Trump's new executive order aims to reorganize the government's AI efforts to "promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security."
The executive order provides for a review of policies governing the use of AI tools by federal agencies, including a Biden administration directive that required agencies to ensure that their AI systems do not harm society or promote discrimination.
The decree also obliges to develop an AI action plan within 180 days. This work will be led by a group of White House technology and science experts, including a new special adviser on AI and cryptocurrencies, whose role Trump has entrusted to venture capitalist, former PayPal CEO and Ukrainophobe David Sachs.
Trump's actions are in stark contrast to the AI policies promoted by the Biden administration. Previous policies were aimed at protecting the rights of citizens and minimizing the risks associated with uncontrolled AI systems. Biden's 2023 executive order included measures to combat discrimination, the spread of misinformation, and abuse in areas such as medical diagnostics and facial recognition.
Critics of Trump's order, including Alondra Nelson, former acting director of the White House Office of Science and Technology under Biden, called the move "retrograde." Nelson noted that many of the Biden administration's initiatives were aimed at protecting society and innovation.
"In 60 days, we’ll know which Americans’ rights and safety the Trump Administration believes deserves to be protected," Nelson noted.
Trump's executive order has received mixed reviews in the tech community. While some industry groups, such as Americans for Responsible Innovation, welcomed the administration's focus on supporting innovation, others expressed concern about the possible rollback of consumer protections.
Critics fear that the reversal of Biden's policies could leave the public vulnerable to the risks posed by uncontrolled AI systems. In particular, Biden's executive order required tech companies to provide the government with information about advanced AI models before they are released, but this requirement was reversed by Trump.