Trump's AI plan prioritizes Silicon Valley growth over ethics and safety
Trump's new AI Action Plan, backed by Silicon Valley elites, emphasizes deregulation and rapid deployment while sidelining ethical concerns and safety measures.
At a high-profile event hosted by the All-In podcast and the Hill & Valley coalition, President Trump signed his new AI Action Plan, marking a shift toward a deregulated, pro-growth approach to artificial intelligence. The event, held at Washington’s Andrew Mellon Auditorium, was attended by Silicon Valley’s elite, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Trump’s appointed AI and crypto czar David Sacks.
Accelerationists Take the Lead
The plan aligns with the "accelerationist" ideology championed by figures like Sacks, White House AI advisor Sriram Krishnan, and Office of Science and Technology Policy director Michael Kratsios. Their philosophy prioritizes rapid AI deployment, minimal regulation, and geopolitical dominance over cautious governance. This stance, articulated by Marc Andreessen in his 2023 blog post, has effectively sidelined the Biden-era focus on AI ethics, safety, and accountability.
Ethics and Safety Sidelined
Former advocates for AI guardrails—ranging from civil rights groups to existential risk researchers—now find themselves marginalized. While some maintain influence in academic or international circles, the current administration’s emphasis on speed and scale leaves little room for ethical considerations. The article suggests that a public backlash or a major AI-related incident may be the only path to reintroducing these concerns into the policy debate.
Key Developments in AI
- Nvidia AI chips smuggled to China: Despite Trump’s export controls, over $1 billion worth of advanced AI chips, including the banned B200, entered China via a black market network. (Financial Times)
- Elon Musk revives Vine: Musk announced the return of the short-form video app Vine "in AI form", leveraging AI-generated content. (Reuters)
- Walmart’s AI overhaul: The retail giant is consolidating its AI tools into four "super agents" to streamline operations. (Wall Street Journal)
Fortune’s AI Coverage Highlights
- Exclusive: AI insurance startup tackles rogue agents
- Google’s AI Overviews disrupt web traffic
- Tesla’s robotaxi network expands
Upcoming AI Events
- July 26-28: World Artificial Intelligence Conference (Shanghai)
- Sept. 8-10: Fortune Brainstorm Tech (Utah)
- Dec. 8-9: Fortune Brainstorm AI (San Francisco)
Eye on AI Numbers
- 88% of Gen Z believe they can detect AI-generated content, but actual success rates hover around 40%.
- 87% of millennials and 80% of Gen Z admit to sharing AI-created material, highlighting a gap in digital literacy.
This summary is based on Fortune’s Eye on AI newsletter. Sign up here.
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About the Author
Dr. Sarah Chen
AI Research Expert
A seasoned AI expert with 15 years of research experience, formerly worked at Stanford AI Lab for 8 years, specializing in machine learning and natural language processing. Currently serves as technical advisor for multiple AI companies and regularly contributes AI technology analysis articles to authoritative media like MIT Technology Review.