Trump pulls AI safety order after last-minute calls from Musk, Zuckerberg, and Sacks
Key Takeaways
- US President Donald Trump canceled a planned executive order on AI safety at the last minute following interventions by Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and David Sacks.
- The draft would have had tech companies voluntarily submit their latest AI models to federal agencies for safety testing before release.
- Critics argued that the review process could impede AI development and jeopardize America’s competitive edge over China. The order has been revised.
The White House initially planned to sign an executive order on AI safety on Thursday, but President Trump canceled it after receiving last-minute calls from tech leaders Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and David Sacks. These individuals raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of the proposed review system.
Some executives had already arrived in Washington for a signing ceremony when the order was pulled. The White House cited that the draft did not align with Trump’s vision for AI development and could undermine America’s lead over China.
Musk, Zuckerberg, and Sacks expressed fears that the voluntary vetting system might be misused or forced into mandatory compliance in future administrations. They also highlighted potential issues such as slow development timelines and concerns about data privacy if companies had to submit sensitive AI models for review.
Sacks reverses course at the last minute
David Sacks, who initially supported the draft, reversed his stance late Wednesday night. He called President Trump directly without informing his team, effectively derailing the process and preventing the executive order from being signed.
The White House official stated that this effort was unnecessary and dismissed it as a response to voices warning about potential existential risks posed by advanced AI systems. The industry also had mixed reactions; some companies advocated for shorter review windows or different lead agencies, while others supported the original proposal.
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