The Trump administration is setting its sights on securing America’s dominance in artificial intelligence, with OpenAI urging a “freedom-focused” AI agenda to counter China’s growing influence. This approach emphasizes regulatory reform, export control strategies, and open copyright policies to maintain the U.S. lead in the AI race.
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, submitted its proposals to the White House last Thursday. The recommendations align with President Donald Trump’s AI Action Plan, introduced shortly after he took office to replace President Joe Biden’s AI executive order. OpenAI stated that its policies aim to boost economic growth, enhance American competitiveness, and ensure national security.
The AI company strongly supports reducing overregulation to foster innovation. OpenAI warned that burdensome laws could hinder American firms, leaving them at a disadvantage compared to China. By adopting policies that encourage innovation while neutralizing potential benefits to China, OpenAI believes the U.S. can maintain its technological edge. “America must move at the speed of the private sector,” OpenAI’s Christopher Lehane wrote in a White House submission. He stressed that as China integrates AI into public administration, security, and military sectors, the U.S. must modernize its processes to match this pace.
Export controls form another critical aspect of OpenAI’s recommendations. The company argued that America should promote its AI technologies globally, ensuring democratic values dominate AI development. Lehane suggested the U.S. should assist allied nations in building AI aligned with American principles, rather than solely focusing on markets outside China. This strategy, he said, would strengthen alliances and counter China’s growing AI influence.
On copyright policies, OpenAI called for a balanced approach that preserves the fair-use doctrine, vital for AI innovation. Lehane highlighted that America’s success in AI stems largely from this doctrine, which supports research and innovation. OpenAI warned against adopting rigid copyright restrictions like those under consideration in the U.K. and European Union. Lehane argued that China would obtain data to advance its AI models regardless of copyright rules, making open policies essential for U.S. competitiveness and security.
President Trump’s administration has shown interest in these proposals. The president hosted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at the White House on his first day in office to announce the Stargate project, a $500 billion initiative to bolster AI infrastructure in America. The AI Action Plan, outlined in Trump’s executive order, aims to cement the nation’s leadership in AI development. Lynne Parker, Principal Deputy Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, stated last month that this plan represents a crucial step toward securing AI dominance.
Meanwhile, China is expanding its own AI ambitions. During an AI summit in Paris, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian announced efforts to recruit nations for a global governance framework on AI. These moves underscore the urgency of America’s action to maintain its leadership.
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