As the US prepares for a change in administration, one of the most keenly debated policy areas will be artificial intelligence (AI).
AI is reshaping all aspects of human interaction, from consumer services to national security, raising profound questions about privacy, fairness, and safety. For businesses to sustain innovation and continue to attract investment, they require a reliable regulatory environment. Broader society is equally keen to see robust oversight of AI development, conscious that, as well as offering unprecedented opportunities to maximize human potential, the technology poses risks to job security, equality, and even personal and national safety. All eyes, then, are on how the forthcoming Trump government will move AI regulation forward.
Well before the country’s new leaders step foot in the White House, there has been upheaval on this front. On 30 October 2023, President Joe Biden signed a landmark executive order (EO) to ensure the US leads standards in harnessing AI, and in putting in place safeguards against its dangers.
Domestically, the EO seeks to establish rigorous standards for AI safety, requiring developers of high-risk AI systems to share safety test results with the government. It introduces measures to protect privacy, eliminate algorithmic discrimination, and support workers affected by AI-driven changes. Moreover, it promotes “responsible” use of AI in healthcare, education, and government operations, while fostering innovation through initiatives such as the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) and the development of an extended workforce.
Internationally, the EO directs federal agencies to collaborate with their counterparts in other countries to establish AI safety benchmarks, promote ethical AI deployment, and address cross-border challenges such as cybersecurity and sustainable development. The Biden Administration has emphasized the importance of building strong cooperative frameworks with allies, aligning itself with global initiatives such as the G7 Hiroshima Process on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the UK AI Safety Summit. Its goal is to create a shared vision of safe, equitable, and globally beneficial AI governance.