Trump’s Executive Order on AI Might Be a Bridge Too Far |
President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Dec. 11, titled “Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence.” Its broadly stated goal is “to sustain and enhance the United States’ global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome national policy framework.”
With more details to come, we hope Trump’s approach properly respects federalism established in the Constitution as a critical safeguard for our liberty.
First, a little background on this fast-moving area.
In October 2023, President Joe Biden issued Executive Order 14110, “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence.”
Spanning 36 pages in the Federal Register, Executive Order 14110 outlined eight “guiding principles and priorities” used to govern the development and use of AI.
Not surprisingly, the list included “advancing equity and civil rights,” with vague references to “existing inequities” and “engagement with affected communities,” all signaling Biden’s intention for AI to be used to drive an ideological agenda.
A few days after taking office for the second time, Trump issued Executive Order 14179, revoking the Biden executive order and asserting the goal “to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance.” Trump’s new order, however, is aimed at minimizing any obstacle to this goal that might come from state efforts to regulate AI.
To this end, the order directs the secretary of commerce, within 90 days, to publish an evaluation of existing........