In a new proposal, Trump advocates for increased open-source AI development, despite lingering apprehensions about potential issues with China.
The Trump administration has unveiled a new AI Action Plan, signalling a significant shift from the regulatory, risk-focused approach of the Biden administration. This new strategy aims to position open-source AI models as foundational to American AI innovation and geostrategic interests.
Under the Trump administration's 2025 AI Action Plan, the focus is on market-driven growth, reducing regulatory barriers, and accelerating AI infrastructure through investments. The plan encourages federal agencies to prioritise open-source AI tools and promotes expanding access to computing resources critical for startups and researchers.
In contrast, the Biden administration's approach, as seen before it was rescinded, was more regulation-oriented and cautious, emphasising harm prevention and broader coordination rather than promoting open-source AI.
The Trump administration's new plan strongly endorses open-source AI and “open-weight” models as key strategic assets that can lower barriers to entry, foster innovation across domestic developers, and set global standards grounded in American values. The administration views open-source AI both as a driver of economic competitiveness and as having significant geostrategic value in international AI leadership.
However, the Trump administration’s plan currently lacks detailed timelines and funding specifics, meaning full impacts remain to be seen once implementation progresses.
Meanwhile, in other news, Ukraine's GDP is up 18% this year with economic growth rising despite a fall in the price of oil, Nigeria's main export. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law that critics say weakens Ukraine's anti-graft watchdogs, sparking a political crisis.
In the Middle East, Gaza is facing "mass starvation," with more than 100 aid agencies warning of the situation. A fragile ceasefire between Druze and Bedouin forces in southern Syria is holding after a week of conflict that left more than 1,000 dead.
In technology, Google's CEO stated that AI is positively impacting every part of the business. Leading artificial intelligence companies are unprepared for the risks their own models pose, according to two major reports. Chinese researchers are reported to have developed military AI applications using Meta's partially open-source Llama.
In politics, US President Donald Trump increased pressure on Moscow to reach a ceasefire or face "very significant" sanctions. The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen demanded explanations from Zelenskyy about the law.
In the world of finance, the European Central Bank maintained its benchmark interest rate at 2% due to uncertainty over the US' tariff plans. Japan agreed a trade deal with the US that includes a 15% tariff on its exports.
Finally, in a worrying development, 33 children have starved to death in two days in Gaza. This underscores the urgency for international intervention to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
[1] White House. (2025). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/ai/
[2] Office of Science and Technology Policy. (2025). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/ai/
[3] Office of Management and Budget. (2025). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/ai/
[4] Office of the United States Trade Representative. (2025). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. Retrieved from https://ustr.gov/ai/
[5] National Science and Technology Council. (2025). Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/nstc/ai/
- The Trump administration's new AI Action Plan, as outlined in the 2025 report, focuses on market-driven growth, reducing regulatory barriers, and accelerating AI infrastructure through investments, with a strong emphasis on open-source AI models.
- In contrast, the previous Biden administration's approach to AI, as seen in its regulations before they were rescinded, was more regulation-oriented, emphasizing harm prevention and broader coordination rather than promoting open-source AI.
- The Trump administration views open-source AI as a strategic asset, with the potential to lower barriers to entry, foster domestic innovation, and set global standards grounded in American values, serving both economic competitiveness and geostrategic interests. However, the plan's lack of detailed timelines and funding specifics means its full impacts are yet to be realized.
