This week’s Donald Trump AI Summit in Washington was a grand event that received a warm response from The Tech Elite. The president took to the stage on Wednesday evening, with a blessing echoing over the loudspeakers before he made his declaration.
The message was unmistakable: the technology regulatory landscape that once dominated Congressional discussions has undergone a significant transformation.
“I’ve been observing for many years,” Trump remarked. “I’ve experienced the weight of regulations firsthand.”
Addressing the crowd, he referred to them as “a group of brilliant minds… intellectual power.” He was preceded by notable figures in technology, venture capitalists, and billionaires, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Palantir CTO Shyam Sankar. The Hill and Valley Forum, a powerful industry group, co-hosted the event alongside the Silicon Valley All-in-Podcast led by White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks.
Dubbed “AI Race Winnings,” the forum provided the president with a platform to present his “AI Action Plan,” aimed at relaxing restrictions on artificial intelligence development and deployment.
At the heart of this plan are three executive orders, which Trump claims will establish the U.S. as an “AI export power” and unwind some regulations introduced by the Biden administration, particularly those governing safe and responsible AI development.
“Winning the AI race necessitates a renewed spirit of patriotism and commitment in Silicon Valley.”
One executive order focuses on what the White House terms “wake up” AI, urging companies receiving federal funds to steer away from “ideological DEI doctrines.” The other two primarily address deregulation—a pressing demand from American tech leaders who have increasingly supported government oversight.
One order will enhance the export of “American AI” to foreign markets, while the other will ease environmental regulations permitting data centers with high power demands.
Lobbying for Millions
In the lead-up to this moment, tech companies have forged friendly ties with Trump. CEOs from Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Apple contributed to the President’s Inaugural Fund and met him at Mar-A-Lago in Florida. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, which developed ChatGPT, has become a close ally of Trump, with Huang from Nvidia pledging a joint investment of $500 million in U.S. AI infrastructure over the next four years.
“The reality is that major tech firms are pouring tens of millions into building relationships with lawmakers and influencing tech legislation,” remarked Alix Fraser, Vice President of Advocacy for the nonprofit.
In a report released on Tuesday, it was revealed that the tech industry is investing record amounts in lobbying, with the eight largest tech companies collectively spending $36 million.
The report noted that Meta accounted for the largest share, spending $13.8 million and employing 86 lobbyists this year. Nvidia and OpenAI reported the steepest increases, with Nvidia spending 388% more than last year and OpenAI’s investment rising over 44%.
Prior to Trump’s AI plan announcement, over 100 prominent labor, environmental, civil rights, and academic organizations rebutted the president’s approach by endorsing the “People’s AI Plan.” In their statement, they stressed the necessity for “relief from technology monopolies,” which often prioritize profits over the welfare of ordinary people.
“Our freedoms, the happiness of our workers and families, the air we breathe, and the water we drink cannot be compromised for the sake of unchecked AI advancements, influenced by big tech and oil lobbyists,” the group stated.
In contrast, tech firms and industry associations celebrated the executive order. Companies like Microsoft, IBM, Dell, Meta, Palantir, Nvidia, and Anthropic praised the initiative. James Czerniawski, head of emerging technology policy at Proview Celebrity Lobbying Group Consumer Choice Center, described Trump’s AI plan as a “bold vision.”
“This marks a significant departure from the Biden administration’s combative regulatory stance,” Czerniawski concluded.
Source: www.theguardian.com
