Trump pulls back AI order

President Donald Trump halted a planned May 21 signing of an executive order on artificial intelligence after last-minute objections from tech allies and his own concerns about the draft, according to Politico and Trump’s remarks to reporters. The unsigned order would have created a voluntary federal review system for advanced AI models before public release, rather than a mandatory licensing regime. (politico.com) David Sacks, Trump’s former AI czar, raised concerns directly with the president, Politico reported, and Livemint said Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg were also among the industry figures who contacted Trump before he walked away from the signing. (politico.com) The reversal left the administration without the AI policy announcement it had spent days preparing. (politico.com) Politico reported that administration officials had briefed major tech companies on the order and invited top AI executives to a Thursday White House ceremony before Trump stopped it. Trump said only that he “didn’t like certain aspects of it” and worried it could slow the United States in its competition with China. ### Why did Trump stop the order hours before the ceremony? David Sacks spoke with Trump before the scheduled signing and argued the measure could become too burdensome for a fast-moving industry, according to Politico. Politico said Sacks told Trump that companies were already cooperating and that federal review of models before release could slow innovation and hurt the United States in the AI race with China. (politico.com) Trump told reporters on May 21 that he had delayed the event because he did not like parts of the order. He said he did not want to do anything that would get in the way of the United States leading China on AI. (politico.com) ### What was actually in the unsigned draft? Politico reported on May 22 that the seven-page draft called for a voluntary oversight system under which developers of advanced AI models could submit products to federal agencies for review as much as 90 days before release. The stated aim was to address concerns that powerful models could enable cyberattacks or other harm if they fell into the wrong hands. (politico.com) The draft also said the reviews would not create “a mandatory governmental licensing, preclearance, or permitting requirement” for new AI models, according to Politico’s copy of the document. It also directed the attorney general to enforce the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and other federal criminal laws against people who use AI in illegal computer intrusions or related crimes. (politico.com) ### Which companies were on each side of the fight? OpenAI backed the general direction of the order, according to Politico. Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s top lobbyist, told reporters last week that the company supported working with the government on AI safety while preserving innovation. (politico.com) Livemint reported that Musk, Zuckerberg and Sacks were among the figures who warned Trump that the vetting system could slow U.S. innovation and advantage China. Politico separately reported opposition from Sacks and other industry leaders, though it did not identify every executive involved. (politico.com) ### Does this mean the White House dropped AI oversight altogether? Politico reported on May 22 that the order could still be rewritten rather than abandoned. Trump said on May 22 that he had “many” concerns about the draft, according to Politico, which reported that White House officials and industry representatives still expected some policy to emerge on advanced AI models. (politico.com) The White House had not posted any AI executive order on its official news page as of May 23. The administration also had not announced what revisions it might make or when a new signing would be scheduled. ### What happens next? Politico reported that administration officials, tech companies and outside advisers were still sorting through the fallout on May 22 as the draft remained in limbo. (livemint.com) The next concrete marker is whether the White House reschedules the signing or releases a revised order spelling out how, and whether, federal agencies would review advanced AI models. (whitehouse.gov) (politico.com)