⚖️ AI in 2025: New Players; New Rules
With a bold executive order and new leadership, the U.S. is making it clear: AI dominance and innovation are the priorities. But what does this mean for the balance between progress and regulation?
Trump’s first week in office here in the US has been interesting to say the least.
Key Facts
- 🔓 Regulatory shift: Companies are no longer required to share AI safety testing results with the government.
- 🌱 Focus on innovation: New policies aim to keep the U.S. competitive in the global AI race.
- ⚠️ Ethical concerns: Industry-led self-regulation puts safety and trust in corporate hands.
Now before we get into this let me get one thing out of the way, this email isn’t about shitting-on or pumping-up either side of our Democracy.
The fact is we have a President who is making it abundantly clear that he’s prioritizing AI and big tech in a way like we’ve never seen before.
He’s made some significant moves across the board, and I want to talk about how it’s reshaping what’s next for AI.
On January 23, a sweeping executive order hit the ground running.
Its mission?
Cement America’s position as the global leader in AI innovation.
This isn’t just about big ambitions—it’s about actionable plans, starting with a required AI action plan due in 180 days.
The shift also includes removing a key requirement for companies to share AI safety testing data with the government, signaling a pivot toward market-driven oversight.
But that’s not all. Enter David Sacks, the newly appointed Special Advisor for AI and Crypto. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because Sacks is known for his deep involvement in the tech and startup world, bringing a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking mindset to this role.
So, how does this all fit together?
The administration has established a new coordination structure, for policymakers and tech leaders to be aligned on key priorities.
This means AI policy development will focus on three core objectives: maintaining global leadership, fostering economic competitiveness, and prioritizing national security.
Oh, and there’s an interesting twist—they’re doubling down on the idea of developing AI systems “free from ideological bias.”
What’s fascinating here is the shift from traditional government mandates to a more market-driven approach.
By reducing barriers to innovation and emphasizing self-regulation, the administration hopes to accelerate AI advancements while keeping America at the forefront of this tech revolution.
And while the new executive order is making early waves, it’s important to note that the core regulations governing AI in the U.S. remain unchanged for now.
- Major AI companies are still required to report safety testing results to the government.
- Safety and security standards continue to be enforced, ensuring that AI deployment stays secure.
- Government agencies are moving forward with the guidelines set under Executive Order 14110, while the Department of Commerce works on developing more comprehensive safety standards through NIST.
- Federal contractors must also adhere to these safety protocols when using AI systems.
But these changes raise some big questions:
- How will this new framework impact industries and startups?
- Can market-driven safety measures truly balance innovation with public trust?
- And what role should government play in ensuring the ethical use of AI?
I’m following this like a hawk because of how quick this industry moves.
I truly want what’s best for startups, business, and those who are using AI, and these changes are going to make an impact one way or another.
Let’s just say the next 4 years are going to be wild for AI.
There are already some big things happening so let’s take a closer look at some of them…
🚀 Can the U.S. Lead the AI Race with the Stargate Initiative?
The Stargate Initiative is America’s ambitious bid to dominate the AI landscape, but can it deliver on its bold promises? With $500 billion on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Key Facts
- 💰 A massive $500 billion investment is being spearheaded by tech giants like SoftBank and OpenAI.
- 🔧 Infrastructure powerhouse: The initiative is building advanced, scalable, and energy-efficient data centers in Texas.
- 👷♂️ Creating 100,000 jobs: A major economic boost tied to AI innovation.
So, here’s the deal on this one…
Some of the biggest names in tech are teaming up to turbocharge AI innovation in the U.S., and they’re not holding back.
We’re talking:
- Masayoshi Son of SoftBank (the guy with the vision and the deep pockets) is running the financial play.
- Sam Altman of OpenAI (yes, the same guy who brought us ChatGPT) is driving operations.
And they’re not doing it alone. Tech giants like Oracle, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Arm are rolling up their sleeves:
It’s not just about the who—it’s about the what.
They’re aiming to build a massive data center in Texas. And we’re not talking your typical server farm here:
- Scalable to grow as AI demands explode.
- Energy-efficient, because no one loves sky-high power bills.
- Hyper-connected, featuring lightning-fast networks for real-time data flow.
- Ultra-secure, with top-tier cybersecurity to keep everything airtight.
Why should we care?
- Jobs, jobs, jobs: Over 100,000 new positions. That’s a serious boost to the economy.
- Competitive edge: Keeping the U.S. at the forefront of AI innovation and reducing dependence on foreign tech.
- Innovation catalyst: With this level of funding, we could see breakthroughs that reshape entire industries.
But after going down the X/Twitter rabbit hole, reading on this, listening to theories.. here’s my real question…
Even if Stargate secures funding and builds a massive data center filled with hundreds of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs and Oracle servers, one question remains: where does the data come from?
OpenAI is fed by hundreds of millions of ChatGPT users.
Tesla/X have enough data for Elon’s data centers.
Google has YouTube
But what big dataset would Stargate actually process?
Here’s what might be possible:
- A giant military simulator.
- Bringing AI to every small business in the U.S. (though that means educating them first).
- Handling data for retail giants like Walmart or entire cities like Las Vegas.
- Taking on Apple-sized data needs.
So who really needs such a huge data center? It doesn’t add up. 🚨
There must be a business reason for SoftBank to launch a fund this large.
Could they be aiming to outdo Y Combinator by funding every new AI startup? That seems unlikely—YC offers more than just money.
In AI, data is the real value, not money alone. And right now, we don’t see the kind of massive, untapped dataset that would justify building Stargate’s colossal infrastructure.
Normally things like this we’d just shrug off but with a ½ trillion price tag this one is too big to ignore and I want you thinking about it as it grows. We’re talking one of the largest technical investments of it’s kind, so this is worth keeping an eye on.
It makes me wonder what kind of ripple effects could a project of this scale have on local economies, education systems, and even daily life?
And are we truly ready for a world where AI drives almost everything?
Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts—I’d love to hear how you see this bold initiative shaping the future.
🇺🇸 Trump’s AI Deregulation: A New Chapter in U.S.-China Competition
President Trump wasted no time fulfilling his campaign promise to remove AI regulations deemed restrictive, revoking Biden’s 2023 executive order. But as the U.S. doubles down on deregulation, how will this affect its edge in the global AI race, especially against China?
Key Facts
- 📜 Executive Order Repeal: Revokes Biden’s 2023 AI oversight rules, removing mandatory safety testing and federal standards.
- 🔧 Focus Areas: Deregulation aims to drive rapid AI innovation, economic growth, and defense advancements.
- 🇨🇳 China’s Growing Competition: China leads in AI research publications, patents, and military integration, leveraging centralized planning and state funding.
And this one is official too.
AI regulation in the U.S. has taken a sharp turn.
On January 23, President Trump signed an executive order overturning Biden’s 2023 oversight framework.
The message?
The U.S. is done with what Republicans saw as red tape holding back AI innovation.
By removing mandatory safety testing and regulatory barriers, the administration hopes to supercharge technological advancement, boost economic growth, and create jobs.
At the same time, the focus on defense-oriented AI applications signals a strong emphasis on national security.
Here’s a play-by play of the changes:
Key Developments
- Trump’s executive order directs a review of Biden’s AI-related actions.
- OMB (Office of Management and Budget) must revise AI-related memorandums within 60 days.
Upcoming Deadlines
- 180-Day Deadline: The development of a comprehensive AI action plan to enhance U.S. AI leadership.
- 60-Day Deadline: OMB to revise AI technology procurement guidelines.
What Remains in Place
- Biden’s AI energy infrastructure order from last week is still active.
- Trump’s previous AI executive orders from his first term remain effective.
Industry Response
- Tech leaders like Meta and Google attended Trump’s inauguration.
- Experts predict a lighter regulatory approach moving forward.
Completed Work
- Most of Biden’s AI initiatives, including agency reports, cybersecurity risk assessments, and AI impact studies, have already been completed.
Meanwhile, the U.S. faces fierce competition from China, which takes a very different approach.
While America bets on private enterprise and open-source collaboration, China is doubling down on centralized planning, state funding, and leveraging its massive data resources.
And it’s working—China has been outpacing the U.S. in key metrics like AI research publications, patent filings, and military integration.
Remember when I wrote about Deep Seek a few weeks ago?
Guess what, they released an OpenSource version of it last week and has all of Silicon Valley big-tech running around scrambling.
More on this next week.
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