What dilemma Donald Trump to face with artificial intelligence

The adoption of the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), which came into force on 1 August, was not just another routine legislative event in Brussels. It marked the beginning of a "great race" to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). Work on regulating the AI industry has also started in the United States.

The potential return of Donald Trump to power, with Elon Musk as one of his key advisers, could significantly influence this trend. Read more about the challenges the future Trump administration may face in this regard in the column by Daryna Boyko and Ivan Horodyskyi of the Dnistriasnkyi Centre - Catching up with Europe: How the US is trying to regulate the AI industry. Advertisement:

The US traditionally strives to avoid burdening businesses with regulatory pressure, the authors note. But in the case of artificial intelligence, Boyko and Horodyskyi point out that the need for regulation was raised as early as last year by representatives of major tech companies. For example, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman urged lawmakers to accelerate the adoption of national legislation to mitigate the risks posed by AI.

He expressed concerns that the AI sector could cause "harm to the world." The Dnistryanskyi Center experts recall that the first important AI regulation projects were discussed in California, home to the development hubs of the largest tech companies. The California AI Safety Bill (SB 1047), proposed in February 2024, became one of the most controversial attempts to regulate AI technologies.

Ultimately, in late September, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill. "However, the results of the US elections may accelerate the adoption of federal AI regulation," the column's authors believe. They explain that since 2022, the US government has been introducing frameworks and guidelines for the use of these technologies.

Boyko and Horodyskyi highlight that one factor likely to speed up the adoption of AI legislation in the US is Elon Musk's closeness to the newly elected president, Donald Trump. "Surprisingly for a tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk has long been a sceptic of artificial intelligence," the Dnistryanskyi Center representatives note. In fact, in August 2024, the owner of X and SpaceX supported California's AI bill.

As for Donald Trump himself, his position on AI regulation remains unclear, the authors write. They suggest that three main factors will shape future decisions on regulating the AI industry in the US. Firstly, Musk's growing sway in Trump's circle could lead the 47th president to adopt a stricter stance on AI regulation.

The second factor is the relations of the new administration with major tech companies that traditionally are more aligned with the Democratic Party and vocal supporters of Kamala Harris in the last election. And the key factor is US-China rivalry, which Trump and his team view as the primary global challenge. AI is now seen as an important battleground where the winner could secure decisive economic and security advantages in the long term.

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