President Trump signed an executive order requiring AI companies to voluntarily submit their models for government testing before public release. The order aims to enhance cybersecurity measures and establish benchmarks for assessing AI models' capabilities.
Key points
Trump signed an executive order on AI safety.
AI companies must voluntarily submit models for government testing.
The order aims to enhance cybersecurity measures.
Federal agencies will develop benchmarks for AI models.
An AI cybersecurity clearinghouse will be established.
The Trump administration's latest AI executive order directs federal agencies to develop benchmarks to assess AI models’ cyber capabilities, to create an “an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse” to review and share information on vulnerabilities, and to shore up the government’s security defenses.
The Trump administration's latest AI executive order directs federal agencies to develop benchmarks to assess AI models' cyber capabilities, to create an "an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse" to review and share information on vulnerabilities, and to shore up the government's security defenses. Graeme Sloan/Getty Images
Graeme Sloan/Getty Images
President Trump signed a long-awaited executive order on Tuesday that aims to mitigate security threats posed by artificial intelligence, in a shift from the administration's hands-off approach to the technology.
The order asks AI companies to voluntarily submit their most powerful models for the government to test up to 30 days before releasing them to the public.
What does Trump's AI executive order require from companies?
The executive order requires AI companies to voluntarily submit their most powerful models for government testing before public release.
What are the main goals of the AI safety order signed by Trump?
The main goals are to mitigate security threats from AI, develop benchmarks for assessing AI models, and create a cybersecurity clearinghouse for sharing information on vulnerabilities.
How long will the government test AI models under the new executive order?
The government will test AI models for up to 30 days before they are released to the public.
What changes does this executive order represent in the Trump administration's approach to AI?
This order marks a shift from a hands-off approach to a more proactive stance on regulating AI technology and addressing its security implications.
Jacinta Allan says Pauline Hanson ‘chooses to barrack for bullies’ over ‘ditch the witch’ billboard
Jacinta Allan criticized a billboard in Melbourne depicting her with the phrase 'Ditch the witch,' calling it sexist and hateful. Pauline Hanson defended the billboard, stating she has faced similar insults for years.
It also directs federal agencies to develop benchmarks to assess AI models' cyber capabilities, to create an "an AI cybersecurity clearinghouse" to review and share information on vulnerabilities, and to shore up the government's security defenses.
"Advanced AI capabilities make our Nation stronger, but also introduce new national security considerations that require coordinated action across executive departments and agencies," the new executive order says. "As these capabilities evolve, my Administration will continue to work closely with industry to ensure that the best and most secure technology is deployed rapidly to confront any and all threats to our country."
The executive order was expected to come out last month, but the White House scrapped signing plans over concerns that it would interfere with AI innovation. Trump said at the time he worried the order would stifle American companies' lead in the global race amid competitive pressure from China.
That earlier version gave the government up to 90 days to review advanced models before release — a timeline that was cut to 30 days in the final order.
The Trump administration has been divided over how to approach AI. While the Biden White House pushed for federal oversight of the emerging technology, Trump has sought to minimize regulation, including at the state level, even as concerns over safety risks have proliferated.
But recently, the development of more powerful AI models has spooked some federal officials, prompting the White House to reverse course and back some safety measures.
In particular, Anthropic's announcement in April that it was limiting the release of its new Mythos Preview model because of its ability to identify and exploit software security vulnerabilities set off alarm bells across Silicon Valley and Washington.
Notably, the order relies on voluntary cooperation from the tech companies leading AI development, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.
Referring to the voluntary testing framework, the order states that "nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the creation of a mandatory governmental licensing, preclearance, or permitting requirement for the development, publication, release, or distribution of new AI models."
Any regulations around the technology would have to come from Congress.
