Trump Administration Weighs AI Safety Measures Ahead of China Summit
The Trump administration appears poised to reshape the U.S. approach to AI security, with executive action on the table as President Trump prepares for a critical summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week. The administration is reportedly considering new guardrails for advanced AI models, signaling a shift in its previously pro-growth stance on AI development.
National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett hinted at a potential executive order that would establish an oversight process for new AI models, likening it to the FDA's approval of new drugs. 'We're studying, possibly an executive order to give a clear roadmap to everybody about how this is going to go,' Hassett stated.
'Future AIs that also potentially create vulnerabilities should go through a process so that they're released to the wild after they've been proven safe, just like an FDA drug.' – Kevin Hassett
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles emphasized the administration's focus on AI safety, stating that President Trump aims to 'ensure the best and safest tech is deployed rapidly to defeat any and all threats.' This rhetoric contrasts sharply with Vice President JD Vance's February 2025 remarks at the AI Action Summit in Paris, where he criticized excessive focus on safety as counterproductive to innovation.
Sources indicate that the administration is considering multiple executive actions, including measures related to AI cybersecurity, deployment, and testing. These could involve licensing or approval processes for AI models used by the government. Meetings this week have included tech giants like Google, xAI, and Microsoft, as well as financial services companies, reflecting a broad-based approach to AI policy.
While these discussions represent a potential pivot in U.S. AI strategy, experts caution that concrete steps are still needed. 'Recent statements reflect less of a major policy shift than an internal debate about how to reconcile its commitment to limit AI regulation with the realities of AI progress,' said Vivek Chilukuri, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security.