Trump Delays AI Executive Order, Says US Must Preserve Edge Over China

President Donald Trump delayed signing an executive order that would require developers to share their most advanced artificial intelligence models with the government before release.

Trump had planned to sign the order at an event on May 21 attended by chief executives of AI companies, according to Reuters and other media reports.

But at the White House in Washington on May 21, Trump said he viewed the order as a hindrance. "We're ahead of China, and we're ahead of every country," he said. "I don't want to do anything that could interfere with that advantage." He did not specify which parts of the order he opposed.

The order emerged as the US Department of Defense and AI startup Anthropic clash over the military use of Claude. Concerns have also been raised that Mythos, Anthropic's latest security-focused AI model, could be misused for hacking.

The White House later began meeting with the technology and cybersecurity industries to discuss details of the order. The AI industry has warned the measure could hurt the sector if it delays new model launches or prompts companies to alter performance to address security concerns.

Since returning to office, Trump has taken a more flexible stance toward Big Tech than former President Joe Biden's administration as AI technology has surged and the industry's influence on the US stock market has grown. Still, some of Trump's supporters, including members of the Make America Great Again movement, are urging at least minimal safeguards on AI technology.

Park Su-rim, Hankyung.com reporter paksr365@hankyung.com