An executive order scheduled for signing would have required a government safety review of new artificial intelligence models before release. Trump reversed course shortly before the signing, despite public backlash and expert warnings about critical security risks. Trump said the US would not slow the AI race and cited American dominance and competition with China as reasons for postponing the order. The postponement was portrayed as a win for tech leaders who oppose AI regulation and have lobbied against it. Reports said major tech figures urged Trump to reverse privately. White House discussions had briefly considered restraints on frontier AI, but the decision returned to a hands-off approach. The shift leaves the tech industry positioned to pursue rapid AI advancement despite potential harms. Discussions followed Anthropic’s announcement of Claude Mythos, which was held back due to safety concerns and highlighted cybersecurity implications.
"Only hours before Donald Trump was set to sign a long-awaited executive order on Thursday that would have called for a government safety review of new artificial intelligence models before their release, the president abruptly backed out. Despite growing public backlash to the technology and experts warning new models will pose critical security risks, Trump vowed the US government would not slow down the AI race."
"During a meeting with reporters on Thursday, Trump cited both American dominance and competition with China and as his reasoning behind the reversal. I didn't like certain aspects of it, I postponed it, Trump said of the executive order in the Oval Office. We're leading China, we're leaving everybody, and I don't want to do anything that's gonna get in the way of that lead."
"Trump's postponing of the order was a victory for tech leaders who have long opposed AI regulation and spent millions lobbying against it. The decision was also the direct result of their influence, according to reports from multiple news outlets, with tech billionaires including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and former White House AI czar David Sacks personally urging Trump to reverse course in private phone calls."
"After a brief period in which the White House appeared concerned enough about potential security implications to consider restraints on frontier AI, Trump's decision marks a return to his own earlier hands-off approach and signals a laissez-faire future. The tech industry retains its ability to pursue rapid advancement of AI regardless of the potential harms, and Silicon Valley's leaders have successfully tested their power to kill any attempts at regulation in infancy."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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