- Services
Trending
Platforms
When Joe Biden won the presidency in 2020, generative AI was still seen as a novelty, far from what it has become now. ChatGPT, which brought AI into the mainstream, was over two years away. AI-driven Google search results, now common, would have seemed like science fiction back then.
AI moves quickly — four years can bring huge changes. This rapid pace makes it challenging for policymakers, whose work often progresses slowly and can shift drastically when a new administration with different priorities takes over. Unlike more stable areas, such as food or drug regulation, AI is evolving too fast for traditional regulatory approaches. This challenge will only grow with the upcoming shift in leadership following Donald Trump’s second term.
In 2023, the Biden administration introduced an executive order on AI, representing an initial government attempt to address AI risks, though its measures were relatively modest. The Trump campaign platform criticizes the order and has repealed it.
There has been considerable debate over AI policy, with Republicans dismissing concerns about equity. Yet, there is also some bipartisan agreement. Lawmakers on both sides don’t want the U.S. to fall behind in defense, stifle a promising technology, or allow powerful AI weapons to be developed by private companies without oversight.
Meta’s chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, a critic of both Trump and Musk and backed a bipartisan AI regulation bill in California, illustrates the diversity of views on AI that don’t fit neatly along political lines. This is beneficial, keeping AI policy bipartisan allows Congress to create flexible policies and empower agencies to enforce them. If AI regulation becomes polarized, it would likely hinder effective policy-making.
The best indication of a strong AI policy under a Trump’s second term will be if it remains bipartisan and focused on shared concerns, like preventing the risks of superintelligent AI. The administration appears to be seriously considering critical issues, like the national security impact if artificial general intelligence (AGI) emerges soon. Whether this leads to sound policy is still uncertain, as it would have been under a Harris administration, too.
Elon Musk’s Starlink is set to gain from Trump’s second term, as Trump and Musk currently back each other strongly. Musk helped with Trump’s campaign and joined him on stage, while Trump praised Musk in his acceptance speech.
Trump might promote Starlink as a solution for connecting rural areas to broadband via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Expert Renaud notes that while Starlink could be a good option for rural connectivity, relying on a single company instead of several local providers could be risky.
Starlink can be seen as a way to revive a struggling national broadband plan.Biden administration’s broadband efforts had been criticized heavily that billions were spent with little result, partly due to tensions with Musk. Trump’s administration, however, is more open to working with Starlink.
Many Trump’s vocal supporters claimed that the Biden administration has only worked to undermine the crypto industry. According to Daniel Ives, managing director at Wedbush Securities, Trump’s second term is a “huge win for crypto.”
The Biden administration has introduced tax reporting requirements for crypto brokers and issued a 2022 executive order to address scams, fraud, and theft in the cryptocurrency sector. The order also includes exploring the possibility of a digital U.S. dollar, a concept Republicans oppose.
Trump’s campaign signals a more crypto-friendly approach, promising to roll back the Biden administration’s actions. If the Biden administration has been cautious or skeptical of fintech and crypto, it’s likely that a Trump administration would reverse those policies.
As Trump’s second term takes over, the U.S. is positioned for significant policy shifts across several technology sectors. AI regulation, once bipartisan, now faces the challenge of maintaining unified policy directions amidst potential polarization. Trump’s favorable stance towards Elon Musk’s Starlink suggests a strategic emphasis on bridging digital divides through private-sector partnerships. Whether these changes bring about the anticipated benefits or introduce new challenges will depend on the balance achieved between innovation and responsible oversight.
Sign up for my newsletter to get latest updates. Do not worry, we will never spam you.
