At a rally after the inauguration, President Trump brought a desk to the podium where he signed a number of executive orders. The night’s first day took aim at 78 of the Biden administration’s orders, including the October 2023 guidelines on AI.
“Rescinding this order is the first of many steps the U.S. federal government will take to repair our nation’s institutions and economy,” the text reads. There’s no explanation for any of the choices, just a long list prefaced with: “The following actions are hereby revoked.” Some are related to the response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while others are about immigration, climate change, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Biden’s executive order outlined an ambitious plan to establish public protections and federal best practices regarding artificial intelligence. More specifically, the EO called for new standards for safety and security, in addition to AI watermarking and protocols for both civil rights and consumer protection. It also cleared the ground to reduce the impact of companies using AI on workers and launched a new federal job portal seeking “more AI talent.”
President Trump on Monday withdrew the United States from the Paris climate accord for the second time in an unprecedented executive order. Although he did so during his first term, Biden restored U.S. participation upon taking office.
