Trump pulls AI executive order

President Donald Trump on Thursday pulled back from signing a planned executive order on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity after last-minute objections from allies and industry executives, according to Axios and Politico. The order had been expected to create a federal process for reviewing some advanced AI systems before public release. Trump told reporters he did not like “certain aspects of it” and said he did not want to do anything that would slow the United States in its competition with China. The reversal came hours before a White House signing ceremony that had been expected to feature technology and AI executives, Axios reported. Politico said former AI adviser David Sacks raised concerns directly with Trump, arguing the measure could burden a fast-moving industry even though he had been briefed on it in recent days. ### What was the White House about to sign? (politico.com) The draft order would have set up a voluntary federal oversight system for developers of advanced AI models, according to Politico and Axios. Under that framework, companies developing covered frontier systems could submit models for government review before release as part of a broader AI safety and cybersecurity effort. Axios reported earlier this week that the White House had been preparing an order covering cybersecurity and AI safety and that it included a framework for developers to inform the government about new releases. (politico.com) The unpublished text became a focal point for disagreements inside the administration and across the tech industry. ### Why did Trump stop it at the last minute? (politico.com) Trump said Thursday morning that he disliked parts of the order and tied his decision to competition with China. “We’re leading China. We’re leading everybody,” he told reporters, according to Politico. “I don’t want to do anything that’s going to get in the way of that.” Politico reported that Sacks told Trump companies were already cooperating and that government review before release could slow innovation and weaken the U.S. position in the AI race with China. (axios.com) The Los Angeles Times also reported that the White House dropped the plan over concern it could hurt the U.S. technological edge. ### What was industry fighting over? A central dispute was how early companies would need to give the government access to advanced models. (politico.com) Axios reported that one sticking point was a proposal requiring firms to share models with the government as much as 90 days before release. The same report said companies worried that such a window could delay launches and complicate access for outside safety testers. Politico reported that some industry officials pressed to shorten the review period to 14 days. The publication also said OpenAI had been broadly supportive of the order’s approach, with top lobbyist Chris Lehane saying last week that the company backed working with government on safe deployment. ### Who backed the order, and who opposed it? OpenAI was among the companies supportive of the order’s general direction, according to Politico. (axios.com) Lehane told reporters the company believed in “the ability to innovate” while working with government in a way that prioritized “safe deployment.” Axios and Politico both reported that some other tech executives and Trump allies opposed the proposal. (politico.com) Axios said Trump did not really want to regulate AI in the first place, while Politico said opposition extended beyond Sacks to other industry leaders. ### What happens now? Axios published the unsigned draft on Friday, May 22, and said administration officials and industry participants are still trying to determine what comes next for government access to advanced models and broader AI safety policy. (politico.com) Any revised order would have to resolve disputes over pre-release review, timing and the scope of covered systems. The White House had planned to release the order on Thursday afternoon, Politico reported, but no new signing date has been announced. (axios.com) For now, the next public marker is the draft text itself and any further comments from Trump, David Sacks, OpenAI and other executives who were briefed on the measure. (politico.com) (axios.com)