Trump Allies Draft AI Order to Launch ‘Manhattan Projects’ for Defense

Former president Donald Trump’s allies are drafting a sweeping AI executive order that would launch a series of “Manhattan Projects” to develop military technology and immediately review “unnecessary and burdensome regulations" -- signaling how a potential second Trump administration may pursue AI policies favorable to Silicon Valley investors and companies.

The framework would also create “industry-led” agencies to evaluate AI models and secure systems from foreign adversaries, according to a copy of the document viewed exclusively by The Washington Post. The framework -- which includes a section titled “Make America First in AI” -- presents a markedly different strategy for the booming sector than that of the Biden administration, which last year issued a sweeping executive order that leverages emergency powers to subject the next generation of AI systems to safety testing.

Employees from the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit led by Trump’s former chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow and other ex-Trump officials, have been involved in the effort, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private plans.

In preparation for this week’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, the GOP adopted a platform that includes repealing the Biden AI executive order, which some tech investors and start-ups have said creates a regulatory burden that stifles innovation. The GOP is taking that tack amid a broader political realignment in Silicon Valley, where some executives and investors who once embraced former president Barack Obama have come out in support of Trump.

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“We will repeal Joe Biden’s dangerous Executive Order that hinders AI Innovation, and imposes Radical Leftwing ideas on the development of this technology,” the GOP platform says. “In its place, Republicans support AI Development rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.”

The framework provides an early look at what potential policies Republicans would pursue to replace the Biden executive order.

In response to a request for comment from The Post, the Trump campaign shared a link to a 2023 blog post, which said “no aspect of future presidential staffing or policy announcements should be deemed official” unless they come directly from Trump or an authorized member of his campaign team.

The America First Policy Institute spokeswoman Hilton Beckham said in a statement that the document does not represent the organization’s “official position.”

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“AFPI does not coordinate with or represent any candidate or campaign,” Beckham said. “We receive thousands of policy ideas from across the country each month. This document is an example of those ideas."

Greater military investment in AI likely stands to benefit tech companies that already contract with the Pentagon, such as Anduril, Palantir and Scale. Key executives at those companies have supported Trump and have close ties to the GOP.

At the same time, the conservative Heritage Foundation has also been drafting potential new AI policies as part of Project 2025, a blueprint for how a potential second Trump term could overhaul the federal government. The Trump campaign has distanced itself from the plan, which includes several policies that aim to spur AI research and development in the United States and limit China’s access to the technology.

In the chaotic aftermath of the attempted assassination of Trump, key tech executives and investors -- including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman -- have endorsed Trump for president. Their support is the latest sign that a possible second Trump administration would have a friendlier relationship with the tech industry. During his time in the White House, Trump maintained close ties to venture capitalist Peter Thiel and some key executives within the former PayPal CEO’s orbit, but often clashed with other tech titans over immigration policies and social media rules.

Trump has been making greater overtures to Silicon Valley in recent weeks, appearing on the All-In Podcast, which is hosted by a group of prominent tech investors, and attending a fundraiser at the home of podcast co-host and former PayPal executive David Sacks. Sacks is scheduled to speak on behalf of Trump at the convention in Milwaukee.

On the podcast, Trump said he had heard from Silicon Valley “geniuses” about the need for more energy to fuel AI development to compete with China.

In an on-air discussion after the interview, the tech investors said Trump needed to surround himself with people who were smart about technologies, including AI and nuclear power. Chamath Palihapitiya, founder of the venture capital firm Social Capital, said Trump’s San Francisco fundraiser showed he enjoys greater support in the tech industry than he had in 2016.

“There are all these people that are coming out of the woodwork,” Palihapitiya said. “If he can figure out how to build a cabinet with those people - meaning these extremely technical, thoughtful people - then there’s a real shot that you could change it.”