Trump unveils AI action plan aiming for ‘global dominance’

Key elements of the AI blueprint

Trump holds a signed executive order after speaking during the AI summit in Washington. (AP Photo)

According to AP and Reuters reporting, Trump signed three executive orders to enact parts of the 90-point AI plan, which:

• Fast-tracks permitting for data centres and power infrastructure by easing environmental restrictions
• Expands US exports of AI software and hardware to allied nations
• Directs federal agencies to avoid contracting with companies whose AI systems exhibit “top-down ideological bias.”
• Rescinds Biden-era AI guardrails, including executive orders on AI safety, misinformation controls, and the ‘diffusion’ rule limiting global access to AI compute.

“Every company will be given the right to build their own power plant,” Trump said as per AP, promising that AI-related power demands will be met with energy sourced from coal, gas, and nuclear options. “We will be adding at least as much electric capacity as China.”

‘Woke AI’

The plan reflects long-standing priorities of tech industry lobbyists and venture capitalists who supported Trump’s 2024 campaign, particularly those concerned with regulatory obstacles and “woke AI.” Trump had previously given his tech advisers six months to replace the Biden administration’s approach to AI governance.

Trump signed three executive orders to enact parts of the 90-point AI plan. (AP Photo)

David Sacks, speaking on the “All-In” podcast, said the plan aims to promote “American values” in AI systems and resist the cultural and political influences critics claim dominate existing platforms. “Technology is going to happen. Trying to stop it is like ordering the tides to stop. If we don’t do it, somebody else will,” said Sacks.

But the blueprint drew immediate criticism from more than 100 public interest groups.

JB Branch, an advocate at Public Citizen, called it a “sellout.”

AI exports and national security concerns

The Departments of Commerce and State will work with the private sector to export “full-stack AI packages” — including hardware, software, and US standards, to allied nations.

This marks a major shift from Biden’s restrictive policy on AI chip exports, especially to countries like the United Arab Emirates, which has recently regained access under Trump.

Vice President JD Vance defended the administration’s move. “If we’re regulating ourselves to death and allowing the Chinese to catch up to us, that’s not something … we should blame the Chinese for… that is something we should blame our own leaders for, for having stupid policies that allow other countries to catch up with America,” Vance said, as per Reuters.

While the new plan opens up international AI commerce, national security safeguards remain in place. A proposal introduced in Wednesday’s recommendations would require location verification for advanced AI chips, a feature aimed at preventing diversion to countries like China.

A central piece of the plan is expediting construction of AI data centers and the power infrastructure they require. The administration will seek exemptions under the National Environmental Policy Act and fast-track permits under the Clean Water Act.

Trump is expected to announce additional actions in the coming weeks aimed at securing long-term access to electricity for data center development. “We need one common sense federal standard that supersedes all states, supersedes everybody,” Trump said, as per AP. “So you don’t end up in litigation with 43 states at one time.”

(With inputs from AP, Reuters)

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