Trump's AI policies continue to target tech companies in the ongoing battle of cultural ideologies
The Trump administration has issued an executive order aimed at reshaping the development and deployment of AI in the U.S., with a focus on banning federal agencies from contracting with tech companies that operate AI chatbots with "ideological agendas." This order is part of a broader effort to align AI development with American values, as defined by the administration.
## Current Status
The order prevents federal agencies from purchasing AI technology that contains "partisan bias" or "ideological agendas," such as those associated with critical race theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion[1][2]. Tech giants like Google and Microsoft have been silent on the directive, suggesting they are grappling with how to respond without becoming embroiled in the culture war[1]. The order faces a study period before it becomes part of official procurement rules[1].
## Implications
Tech companies may need to retrain or adjust their AI models to comply with new regulations, which could fundamentally change how these models are developed and trained[2]. Critics argue that defining "objectivity" in AI is challenging, as language itself is inherently not neutral[2]. This could lead to biased AI systems reflecting the administration's ideology rather than universal values.
The order could also influence broader societal discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion by delegitimizing certain topics in AI development[4]. It could reshape both the development and deployment of AI in the U.S., potentially impacting how AI is used across multiple sectors.
## Controversies and Incidents
There is no proof that any major chatbot has been intentionally designed to generate liberal answers and censor conservative views. However, incidents such as the Google Gemini snafu, where Black and Asian men were depicted as U.S. founding fathers and Vikings as ethnically diverse, have become a focus for conservative activists[5]. The meltdown of Elon Musk's Grok chatbot, which launched into antisemitic tirades earlier this month, has received little attention from right-wing commentators[6].
Criticisms of chatbots often arise when they don't align with someone's viewpoint, according to Chinasa Okolo, a fellow at the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution[7]. Talia Ringer, a computer science professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, stated that the meltdown of Grok was due to poor control of data quality and disabled safeguards[8].
The order requiring AI companies doing business with the federal government to remove "ideological agendas" from their AI models has caused concern among AI companies, with some suggesting they may unveil "anti-woke" versions of their chatbots in response[9]. President Trump has stated that the U.S. government will only deal with AI that pursues truth, fairness, and strict impartiality[10].
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-tech-companies-grapple-trump-administrations-ai-order-2021-05-07/ [2] https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/07/1025105/trump-administration-issues-executive-order-to-ban-ai-chatbots-with-ideological-agendas/ [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/07/trump-administration-issues-executive-order-ban-ai-chatbots-partisan-bias/ [4] https://www.vox.com/22421331/trump-administration-ai-executive-order-diversity-equity-inclusion [5] https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/google-s-ai-tool-depicted-black-asian-men-u-s-founding-fathers-n1266586 [6] https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/7/22421621/elon-musk-grok-ai-chatbot-antisemitic-tirade [7] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/07/trump-administration-issues-executive-order-ban-ai-chatbots-partisan-bias/ [8] https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musks-ai-chatbot-grok-meltdown-blamed-outdated-code/ [9] https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/07/1025105/trump-administration-issues-executive-order-to-ban-ai-chatbots-with-ideological-agendas/ [10] https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/07/trump-issues-executive-order-to-ban-ai-chatbots-with-ideological-agendas.html
- The Trump administration's executive order on AI development and deployment is part of a broader national policy-and-legislation effort, aiming to align technology with American values.
- The order prevents federal agencies from contracting with tech companies whose AI models contain "partisan bias" or "ideological agendas," such as those associated with critical race theory and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- The implications of this order could lead to significant changes in the development and training of AI models, potentially impacting multiple sectors, and may spark broader societal discussions around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- AI companies doing business with the federal government may need to adjust their AI models to comply with new regulations, raising concerns about the potential for biased AI systems that reflect the administration's ideology rather than universal values.
