Donald Trump announced Monday that he would sign an executive order this week to prevent US states from regulating artificial intelligence (AI) at their level, many having already legislated in the absence of a federal framework.
In theory, a decree cannot supersede a text passed by Congress or by the Legislature of an American state.
“There must be only one set of rules if we want to continue to be first in AI. […] But this will not last if all 50 states, many of which are bad actors, get involved in the RULES and the ENFORCEMENT PROCESS,” the US president wrote on his Truth Social network.
The president did not indicate whether the executive order would contain regulatory measures that could supersede state legislation. Until now, Donald Trump has consistently expressed support for a deregulated approach to AI.
More than 100 laws have already been adopted in some thirty states. They cover many aspects related to AI, from the reasoned development of generative AI models to the creation of “deepfakes” (content depicting a person using AI) and the obligation of transparency on the use of this technology.
Numerous bills have been introduced in Congress, but none have yet been put to a vote.
A few hours after his inauguration in January, Donald Trump had overturned an executive order issued by his predecessor Joe Biden on artificial intelligence (AI) security.
The initial text, unveiled in October 2023, notably required companies in the sector to transmit certain data relating to their AI models to the federal government.
They were therefore required to communicate test results when programs presented “a serious risk in terms of national security, national economic security, or public health.”
The decree also tasked the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with formulating recommendations and defining standards concerning AI.
He also urged all government agencies to conduct an AI risk assessment of their activities.