President Donald Trump put off signing an executive order on artificial‑intelligence oversight after expressing dissatisfaction with several provisions, sources said. The order, initially drafted to compel AI companies to submit advanced models to the government before they reach the market, was later softened to make participation voluntary. Even the watered‑down version sparked pushback from top industry figures.
Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and former U.S. AI and crypto czar David Sacks were among the leaders who contacted the White House in the hours before a planned signing ceremony. They warned that mandatory disclosures could slow the development of AI technologies that now underpin much of the American economy. Anonymous insiders told The Washington Post that the pressure convinced Trump to delay the rollout.
"I really thought that the bill could have been a blocker, and I want to make sure that it's not," Trump said in a recent appearance, emphasizing his desire to avoid stifling innovation. He has not yet said whether the order will be rewritten or when a new signing might occur.
The administration’s approach to AI has been largely hands‑off. In a July event, Trump likened the technology to a baby that must be allowed to thrive, rejecting what he called "foolish" and "stupid" regulations. Yet voter concerns about job displacement and rising electricity costs, along with the emergence of powerful models like Anthropic’s Mythos—designed to detect cybersecurity vulnerabilities faster than any human—have heightened political pressure for some form of oversight.
Proponents of the order argue that without government review, state actors could weaponize advanced AI against the United States. The draft that reached the White House called for companies to submit models 90 days before public release, but participation would remain optional. Critics, including Musk and Sacks, warned that even voluntary reporting could create a chilling effect, discouraging firms from pursuing cutting‑edge research.
White House officials were reportedly surprised by the delay, especially after Sacks had previously indicated he could live with the order’s terms. Sources familiar with the matter say the administration will likely revisit the proposal, though no timeline has been set for a new draft.
The postponement underscores the delicate balance policymakers face: fostering AI innovation while addressing national‑security and economic concerns. As the debate continues, industry leaders and government officials alike will watch closely to see how the next version of the order, if any, addresses both sides of the argument.
This article was written with the assistance of AI.
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