Donald Trump launches Artificial Intelligence Initiative
A.I. has become a defining issue of our time, affecting national security, economic development, human rights, social media and many other domains. President Donald Trump signed an executive order launching the “American AI Initiative”, directing federal agencies to officially focus more on artificial intelligence technology.
The administration will be assigning federal agencies specific timelines for “deliverables” and expects to release more information about the initiative in the next six months.
The initiative is following at least 18 other countries that have announced their own artificial intelligence strategies.
The five “key pillars” of the American AI Initiative are:
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Research and Development
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Infrastructure
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Governance
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Workforce
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International Engagement
The American AI Initiative follows several steps the Trump administration has already taken on A.I.
Early reaction is mixed. “The White House’s latest executive order correctly highlights AI as a major priority for US policymaking,” says Kate Crawford, a co-director of AI Now, a research institute at New York University in New York City. But she’s concerned about its focus on industry and apparent lack of input from academia and civic leaders. She says passing mentions of privacy and civil liberties don’t dispel worries about the Trump administration’s “troubling track record” on these issues.
“The White House’s latest executive order correctly highlights AI as a major priority for US policymaking, … (but I am) concerned about its focus on industry and apparent lack of input from academia and civic leaders.”
