OpenAI has proposed a "freedom-focused" policy to the White House's AI Action Plan, advocating for leveraging trade laws to maintain AI dominance over China, reducing copyright restrictions for training data, investing in AI infrastructure, and preventing states from implementing restrictive AI laws, particularly targeting California's defeated SB 1047 bill. The AI sector faces a surge in state-level legislation, with 893 bills introduced across 48 states in less than 80 days of 2025. These vary from regulating AI's use to promoting it in certain areas. OpenAI's opposition to state regulations stems from the potential chaos of 50 different legal frameworks conflicting with its operations. The federal government has not yet established significant national AI laws, and OpenAI, along with the tech industry, is leveraging the threat of China and national security concerns to push their agenda.
President Trump's executive order on mining aims to bolster domestic extraction projects, although challenges such as investment hesitation and community engagement remain. Additionally, the Department of Energy's procedure for evaluating and possibly cutting contracts and grants is critiqued for potentially affecting large-scale agreements. Lastly, growing political backlash against Elon Musk sees increased Tesla trade-ins, with customer protests and opposition impacting the company despite stable vehicle prices.
In response to these developments, hundreds of Hollywood stars, including Ben Stiller, Cate Blanchett, and Chris Rock, have urged the Trump administration to resist efforts by AI companies like Google and OpenAI to weaken copyright laws. These firms seek permission to use copyrighted materials without consent to train AI models, a move the stars argue threatens the U.S.'s creative industries. The letter signed by 400 artists emphasizes that AI companies should negotiate proper licenses for using copyrighted content, as is standard in other industries. The tech companies argue that such measures are necessary to maintain U.S. competitiveness against China and to avoid complex negotiations with data holders. However, the artists contend that tech giants, with substantial revenues, should not undermine copyright protections to boost profits. This U.S. dispute mirrors a similar debate in the U.K., with creatives insisting on fair compensation for AI training data.
The American Edge Project, a policy advocacy group backed by major tech firms, has intensified its efforts to influence public opinion and policymakers. Formed in 2019, the organization promotes the interests of the technology industry, focusing on issues such as antitrust and innovation. It has launched advertising campaigns and funded research to highlight the positive impact of technology on the U.S. economy and national security. Critics, however, have questioned the transparency of its funding and its close ties to industry giants.
Lobbying efforts have reached unprecedented levels, with 460 organizations engaging on AI issues in 2023. Among these, 85 were from the electronics manufacturing and equipment industry, including major players like Apple, Adobe, Microsoft, Dell Systems, and Blackberry. These companies have lobbied on bills related to AI, reflecting the sector's growing influence and the high stakes involved in shaping the regulatory landscape.
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