Trump reveals bold AI plan targeting deregulation, rejects copyright payments for AI training

Trump's AI plan rejects copyright fees, focuses on deregulation, and boosts US competitiveness against China.

: President Donald Trump unveiled a plan focusing on deregulation of AI development, dismissing the requirement for companies to pay for copyrighted content used in training systems. Trump argued at a Washington summit that strict licensing and compensation for each media piece used could hinder US innovation and cede leadership to countries like China. His AI Action Plan involves 90 recommendations, aiming to accelerate AI innovation, enhance infrastructure, and boost exports, especially to allied countries. The plan intends to simplify regulatory structures, preempt restrictive state laws, and eliminate certain environmental laws to fast-track data center construction.

President Donald Trump's unveiling of the AI Action Plan highlights his administration's commitment to removing regulatory barriers in AI development, emphasizing national competitiveness over copyright protections. At the Washington AI Summit, Trump dismissed the idea that AI developers should pay for copyrighted materials, arguing it would stifle essential innovation. He pointed to China, a global competitor that doesn't enforce such strict requirements, as a potential beneficiary of these constraints on American AI firms.

The AI Action Plan includes approximately 90 recommendations aimed at accelerating American AI innovation and enhancing domestic infrastructure to ensure US leadership in emerging markets. Central to the strategy is a significant increase in AI technology exports, particularly targeting allied nations. The administration plans to facilitate federal agency partnerships with industry consortia, offering comprehensive export packages of software, hardware, and data solutions. This approach marks a stark contrast to previous strategies focusing on consumer protection and extensive regulation under former President Joe Biden.

In support of this aggressive AI advancement, Trump's plan involves fast-tracking data center construction by relieving environmental regulations and simplifying nationwide permit processes. These initiatives aim to meet the rising electricity requirements driven by advancements in AI and cloud computing. To further ease the operational climate for AI firms, the Trump administration proposes the exemption of data centers from certain major environmental laws.

The plan also preempts overly restrictive state-level regulations, emphasizing a standard national framework for AI governance. States adopting aggressive local regulations may risk reduced federal funding for AI-related projects. Additionally, federal agencies like the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission are encouraged to reassess and potentially contest state actions deemed obstructive to innovation.

While sidestepping direct resolutions on copyright issues, the plan advocates for new federal guidelines and a "voluntary forensic framework" to assess the authenticity of digital content, addressing concerns like deepfakes. It rescinds Biden-era restrictions perceived as obstacles to AI progress, intending to empower companies like Nvidia, AMD, Google, Microsoft, and Meta to expand their technologies on a global scope. The administration's policies aim to reinforce American influence in a critical competition shaping the 21st century.

Sources: TechSpot, Deadline, Reuters

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