Trump signs narrower executive order on AI oversight after industry objections

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday regarding the oversight of powerful AI models. This order requests that certain AI companies voluntarily submit their new models to the government for testing or evaluation 30 days before public release.

This narrower executive order followed significant industry pushback against an earlier, more demanding draft. The initial version had called for a voluntary review period of up to 90 days, which AI industry insiders argued was too long.

Trump had previously delayed signing a more stringent version of the order after objections from figures like venture capitalist David Sacks. The president expressed a desire to avoid impeding AI firms’ ability to compete globally, particularly against China.

The executive order explicitly states that it should not be interpreted as authorizing mandatory government licensing or preclearance for AI model development or distribution. This clause addresses industry concerns about potential over-regulation.

In addition to the voluntary review of AI models, the order directs the Department of Justice to prioritize enforcement against AI-assisted crimes, such as hacking and unauthorized access.

This is not Trump's first executive action on AI; he previously signed an order in December directing the development of a national AI policy framework to preempt state-level AI regulations.