Trump's AI plans include a time bomb for tech companies

The Trump administration has released a new AI Action Plan that offers the industry much of what it needs to compete with China, but also contains a provision that could be a time bomb for tech companies. The plan requires AI models procured by federal agencies to promote "ideological neutrality," which poses technical challenges and raises questions about who decides what counts as an acceptable answer. This requirement could lead to conflicts between tech firms and governments eager to promote agendas and quash dissent. The plan focuses on accelerating AI innovation, but does not address concerns such as model safety, environmental risks, and job loss. The administration has also signed executive orders to support the plan, including one to speed up the federal permitting process for new power plants and data centers. Trump has called for doing "whatever it takes" to win the AI race, and has touched on other issues important to the industry, such as pre-emption of state laws regulating AI and training AI systems on copyrighted content. The plan has been met with criticism from groups such as the Center for Democracy and Technology, which argues that the requirement for ideological neutrality is an impossible and vague standard that can be weaponized for ideological ends. The administration's move could be the first of many efforts by governments around the world to require AI systems to toe political lines. The plan's release follows a period of public comment after the cancellation of a Biden-era policy that focused on risks. Overall, the plan gives a green light to the tech industry, but also raises concerns about government control over AI development.