Tools
Change country:

AI is powerful, dangerous, and controversial. What will Donald Trump do with it?

Donald Trump and Elon Musk at a rally at sunset
Elon Musk supported California’s AI regulation bill, but also enthusiastically backed Donald Trump for president.

In 2020, when Joe Biden won the White House, generative AI still looked like a pointless toy, not a world-changing new technology. The first major AI image generator, DALL-E, wouldn’t be released until January 2021 — and it certainly wouldn’t be putting any artists out of business, as it still had trouble generating basic images. The release of ChatGPT, which took AI mainstream overnight, was still more than two years away. The AI-based Google search results that are — like it or not — now unavoidable, would have seemed unimaginable. 

In the world of AI, four years is a lifetime. That’s one of the things that makes AI policy and regulation so difficult. The gears of policy tend to grind slowly. And every four to eight years, they grind in reverse, when a new administration comes to power with different priorities. 

That works tolerably for, say, our food and drug regulation, or other areas where change is slow and bipartisan consensus on policy more or less exists. But when regulating a technology that is basically too young to go to kindergarten, policymakers face a tough challenge. And that’s all the more case when we experience a sharp change in who those policymakers are, as the US will after Donald Trump’s victory in Tuesday’s presidential election. 

This week, I reached out to people to ask: What will AI policy look like under a Trump administration? Their guesses were all over the place, but the overall picture is this: Unlike on so many other issues, Washington has not yet fully polarized on the question of AI. 

Trump’s supporters include members of the accelerationist tech right, led by the venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, who are fiercely opposed to regulation of an exciting new industry.

But right by Trump’s side is Elon Musk, who supported California’s SB 1047 to regulate AI, and has been worried for a long time that AI will bring about the end of the human race (a position that is easy to dismiss as classic Musk zaniness, but is actually quite mainstream). 

Trump’s first administration was chaotic and featured the rise and fall of various chiefs of staff and top advisers. Very few of the people who were close to him at the start of his time in office were still there at the bitter end. Where AI policy goes in his second term may depend on who has his ear at crucial moments. 

Where the new administration stands on AI

In 2023, the Biden administration issued an executive order on AI, which, while generally modest, did mark an early government effort to take AI risk seriously. The Trump campaign platform says the executive order “hinders AI innovation and imposes radical left-wing ideas on the development of this technology,” and has promised to repeal it. 

“There will likely be a day one repeal of the Biden executive order on AI,” Samuel Hammond, a senior economist at the Foundation for American Innovation, told me, though he added, “what replaces it is uncertain.” The AI Safety Institute created under Biden, Hammond pointed out, has “broad, bipartisan support” — though it will be Congress’s responsibility to properly authorize and fund it, something they can and should do this winter. 

There are reportedly drafts in Trump’s orbit of a proposed replacement executive order that will create a “Manhattan Project” for military AI and build industry-led agencies for model evaluation and security. 

Past that, though, it’s challenging to guess what will happen because the coalition that swept Trump into office is, in fact, sharply divided on AI. 

“How Trump approaches AI policy will offer a window into the tensions on the right,” Hammond said. “You have folks like Marc Andreessen who want to slam down the gas pedal, and folks like Tucker Carlson who worry technology is already moving too fast. JD Vance is a pragmatist on these issues, seeing AI and crypto as an opportunity to break Big Tech’s monopoly. Elon Musk wants to accelerate technology in general while taking the existential risks from AI seriously. They are all united against ‘woke’ AI, but their positive agenda on how to handle AI’s real-world risks is less clear.”

Trump himself hasn’t commented much on AI, but when he has — as he did in a Logan Paul interview earlier this year — he seemed familiar with both the “accelerate for defense against China” perspective and with expert fears of doom. “We have to be at the forefront,” he said. “It’s going to happen. And if it’s going to happen, we have to take the lead over China.” 

As for whether AI will be developed that acts independently and seizes control, he said, “You know, there are those people that say it takes over the human race. It’s really powerful stuff, AI. So let’s see how it all works out.” 

In a sense that is an incredibly absurd attitude to have about the literal possibility of the end of the human race — you don’t get to see how an existential threat “works out” — but in another sense, Trump is actually taking a fairly mainstream view here. 

Many AI experts think that the possibility of AI taking over the human race is a realistic one and that it could happen in the next few decades, and also think that we don’t know enough yet about the nature of that risk to make effective policy around it. So implicitly, a lot of people do have the policy “it might kill us all, who knows? I guess we’ll see what happens,” and Trump, as he so often proves to be, is unusual mostly for just coming out and saying it. 

We can’t afford polarization. Can we avoid it? 

There’s been a lot of back and forth over AI, with Republicans calling equity and bias concerns “woke” nonsense, but as Hammond observed, there is also a fair bit of bipartisan consensus. No one in Congress wants to see the US fall behind militarily, or to strangle a promising new technology in its cradle. And no one wants extremely dangerous weapons developed with no oversight by random tech companies. 

Meta’s chief AI scientist Yann LeCun, who is an outspoken Trump critic, is also an outspoken critic of AI safety worries. Musk supported California’s AI regulation bill — which was bipartisan, and vetoed by a Democratic governor — and of course Musk also enthusiastically backed Trump for the presidency. Right now, it’s hard to put concerns about extremely powerful AI on the political spectrum.

But that is actually a good thing, and it would be catastrophic if that changes. With a fast-developing technology, Congress needs to be able to make policy flexibly and empower an agency to carry it out. Partisanship makes that next to impossible.

More than any specific item on the agenda, the best sign about a Trump administration’s AI policy will be if it continues to be bipartisan and focused on the things that all Americans, Democratic or Republican, agree on, like that we don’t want to all die at the hands of superintelligent AI. And the worst sign would be if the complex policy questions that AI poses got rounded off to a general “regulation is bad” or “the military is good” view, which misses the specifics. 

Hammond, for his part, was optimistic that the administration is taking AI appropriately seriously. “They’re thinking about the right object-level issues, such as the national security implications of AGI being a few years away,” he said. Whether that will get them to the right policies remains to be seen — but it would have been highly uncertain in a Harris administration, too.


Read full article on: vox.com
Hanna Cavinder jokes that she’s the ‘biggest curse in college football’ amid Carson Beck turnover struggles
The Cavinder twins are quite aware of the alleged "Cavinder Curse."
9 m
nypost.com
‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Part 1 Recap: What To Remember Before ‘Yellowstone’ Returns
It's been nearly tow years. We all need a refresher.
nypost.com
Zach Bryan’s dating history: Meet the singer’s ex-wife and girlfriends
The country singer most recently dated Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia, with the "BFFs" podcast co-host accusing him of emotional abuse post-breakup.
nypost.com
Historic Rome landmark's temporary closure causes uproar: 'Saddest thing I’ve seen in Italy'
While the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy, undergoes maintenance, officials have added a makeshift pool in place of the tourist spot, sparking reactions from travelers on social media.
foxnews.com
Who is Susie Wiles, Trump's White House chief of staff? 5 things to know
President-elect Donald Trump made history by appointing veteran GOP political strategist Susie Wiles to be the first female White House chief of staff in U.S. history.
foxnews.com
Erin Andrews responds to meteorologist after NFL weather alert drama
The Fox Sports broadcaster called out a Milwaukee-based meteorologist who claimed she made up a weather alert in Green Bay during the Packers-Lions game Sunday.
nypost.com
Victor Cruz’s advice to Malik Nabers to keep him off dark Giants path
Nabers will have to pick up the pace in a big way to get close to Cruz’ single-season receiving yards franchise record.
nypost.com
Mike Bloomberg slams Democrats for concealing Biden’s decline: ‘Probably wasn’t great to cover up infirmities’
The former mayor suggested that Democrats "might ask themselves how exactly they lost to...an ailing 78-year-old who much of the country despises."
nypost.com
Judge strikes down Biden administration program shielding immigrant spouses from deportation
A federal judge strikes down a Biden administration policy aimed at easing the path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens.
latimes.com
‘Es un acto de justicia’: la comunidad oaxaqueña reacciona a la derrota de Kevin De León
La candidata filipina Ysabel Jurado se declaró ganadora en la contienda por el puesto de concejal en el distrito 14 de Los Ángeles
latimes.com
Russia soldiers who massacred Ukraine family get life in prison
The case marks a rare example of Russia admitting to a crime committed by its troops in Ukraine.
cbsnews.com
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough slams Dem strategy, says Trump won because voters ‘were looking at their wallets’
Since Trump’s stunning election win – including a sweep of several key swing states – left-leaning news anchors have tried to figure out what went wrong. 
nypost.com
I’m a dermatologist — never pop a pimple that falls in the ‘triangle of death’
Board-certified NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Mark Strom has taken to TikToK to reveal the one place where he would never pop a pimple.
nypost.com
Trump win boosts book sales from "The Handmaid's Tale" to "Hillbilly Elegy"
Dystopian classic "The Handmaid's Tale" was popular throughout Trump's first term, along with George Orwell's "1984."
cbsnews.com
Kelly Reilly on the final season of "Yellowstone" and what's next for Beth Dutton
"Yellowstone" star Kelly Reilly joins "CBS Mornings" to share what lies ahead for her character Beth Dutton in the final episodes of season five.
cbsnews.com
Kate Middleton set to join royals at Remembrance events — as Queen Camilla’s attendance is still uncertain due to chest infection
In the United Kingdom, Remembrance Sunday is observed on the second Sunday of every November.
nypost.com
How investigators solved beloved Texas teacher's 1995 murder
The 1995 murder of beloved teacher Mary Catherine Edwards has always haunted the city of Beaumont, Texas. This week's "48 Hours" has the remarkable story of how a husband and wife detective team and genealogist were able to track down the suspect in Ohio decades later.
cbsnews.com
Kindness 101: Celebrating individuality with a young green hero
Steve Hartman and his children explore individuality in this week's "Kindness 101."
cbsnews.com
The best home espresso machines we tested at every price point
It's that me, espresso.
nypost.com
Bravo Shocker: ‘Real Housewives Of Dubai’ Paused After Two Seasons
Caroline Brooks recently denied the show was going on hiatus.
nypost.com
Michael Cohen hilariously trolled with face filters during TikTok live
“Can we stop with that?” Donald Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen was made to look like a turkey — literally — during a livestream on TikTok. The 58-year-old attorney fumed as TikTok users added digital filters to his face against his will, including a turkey headpiece, an Elvis-like hairdo, green laser eyes and more. 
nypost.com
How Warren Buffett bet against the ‘Trump trade’ — and lost spectacularly
Now that the possibility of Trump winning has turned into a reality, the famed Oracle of Omaha is looking more like the Knucklehead from Nebraska.
nypost.com
Caitlin Clark expected to join David Letterman for his lecture series as busy offseason continues
Caitlin Clark continues to make moves this offseason, as she was announced as part of David Letterman's lecture series at his alma mater Ball State University next month.
foxnews.com
Israeli soccer fans attacked in Amsterdam in violence condemned as antisemitic
Dutch officials say young people on scooters attacked Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam after calls to target Jewish people spread on social media.
latimes.com
9 of the best restaurants in Alexandria
Sushi, kitfo, momos — there’s a spot for every palate in this historic town.
washingtonpost.com
Gentle giant crowned American Humane’s 2024 Hero Dog for finding missing children and more
American Humane announced the winning pet of its 2024 Hero Dog Award. The crowned dog and four finalists will be honored at a gala in Florida this winter.
foxnews.com
Corey Feldman Waited 20 Years To Celebrate ‘The Birthday’
Thanks to Jordan Peele, Feldman can finally blow out his candles.
nypost.com
Own Microsoft Office forever and ditch the subscription headaches for good
One-time payment, lifetime access: Office 2021 for less than your monthly streaming bill.
nypost.com
This NYC airport has the most expensive beer in the US — nearly as much as the price of a whole case
The costs are sky-high.
nypost.com
Trump administration could lead to budget cuts, leadership shakeup at UN
A Donald Trump presidency is sure to have reverberations at the United Nations, and first on the chopping block could be its funding.
foxnews.com
Watch Live: 2025 Grammy Award nominations
The Recording Academy is set to announce the nominees for the 67th Grammy Awards at 10:45am ET. Female artists are behind some of the year’s biggest musical hits, including Taylor Swift who is predicted to win Album of the Year with “The Tortured Poets Department.” The nominees will be announced by a host of talent,...
nypost.com
‘WWHL’: Jackie Hoffman Recalls Awkward Moment When She Called Barbara Bush “The Real Man Of The Family” In Front Of George H. W. Bush
It did not go over well.
nypost.com
How to build a "dopamine menu" to combat the fall and winter blues
Worried about slipping into the winter blues? A "dopamine menu" could help. Experts explain how, along with ideas to get started.
cbsnews.com
Roommate of Orlando woman missing since Christmas 2022 charged with murder
During the investigation, detectives found "numerous inconsistencies" in the version of events as described by Victoria-Gonzalez.
nypost.com
Graphic videos capture anti-Israeli mob attacking soccer fans in Amsterdam
Israeli soccer fans were ambushed and brutally assaulted in Amsterdam by gangs of anti-Israel thugs shouting “Free Palestine.” The attacks, which happened as they exited the stadium, led the Jewish state’s government to send planes to evacuate its citizens, officials said.
nypost.com
How Trump got diversity right — and built a GOP coalition for the future
Donald Trump famously dethroned the Republican establishment in 2016, and now has crushed underfoot its theory of how to forge a GOP future in an increasingly diverse country. 
nypost.com
Man randomly stabs teenage girl in Dollar Tree as she stood with her mother: Police
A 31-year-old Massachusetts man has been arrested after a “random and unprovoked” stabbing attack on a teenage girl as she stood with her mother at a Dollar Tree store.
abcnews.go.com
Teresa Giudice’s husband, Luis Ruelas, accused of cheating during explosive ‘House of Villains’ fight
The "Real Housewives of New Jersey" star and the "Flavor of Love" alum got into a dramatic argument in Thursday's episode of the E! competition series.
nypost.com
Counterfeit weight loss drugs feed demand for cheaper options
Record demand for Ozempic, Wegovy and other weight loss drugs is fueling a surge of dangerous knockoffs.
cbsnews.com
Inside ‘Yellowstone’ mastermind Taylor Sheridan’s rise — and Kevin Costner feud
Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind “Yellowstone” and nearly a dozen other shows, was a relative unknown before the ranch drama became a hit. Now, he’s a Hollywood force.
nypost.com
Robots carve sculptures in Italy, sparking outrage among traditional artisans
In Carrara, Italy, a studio is using robots to create sculptures, a move that has traditional sculptors concerned about the future of Italian art. Bill Whitaker explores the clash between technology and heritage on "60 Minutes."
1 h
cbsnews.com
Counterfeit weight loss drugs sold online as demand for cheaper options grows
A surge in counterfeit versions of popular weight loss drugs is raising health concerns. U.S. Customs is intercepting fake medications with potentially harmful effects. Tom Hanson reports on the risks and how consumers can protect themselves.
1 h
cbsnews.com
Starbucks’ holiday menu is here — but US fans miss out on 2 new sweet and salty drinks
"I was so excited and then immediate sadness," one disappointed fan said.
1 h
nypost.com
62 arrested in Amsterdam after violent attacks on Israeli soccer fans
Overnight attacks in Amsterdam targeting Israeli soccer fans left five people hospitalized as anger over the Gaza conflict escalates. Ramy Inocencio reports.
1 h
cbsnews.com
Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms in several states, prompt investigations
Racist text messages invoking slavery sent to Black men, women and students raise alarm, prompting inquiries by the FBI and other agencies.
1 h
latimes.com
Entertain with ease: 10 entertaining essentials to simplify your holiday hosting
Join the party and make sure your guests have everything they need by having the right hosting products.
1 h
foxnews.com
Fed Chair Jerome Powell says he won't resign if Trump tries to remove him
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said he would not step down if pressured by President-elect Trump. The Fed also cut interest rates by one quarter of a percentage point. MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has the details.
1 h
cbsnews.com
Federal investigation launched into racist texts targeting Black Americans across 10 states
Federal authorities are examining a series of racist texts sent to Black Americans across 10 states. Many of the messages were sent to students and make reference to slavery.
1 h
cbsnews.com