Trump to unveil AI executive orders targeting China competition

President Donald Trump is set to unveil several executive orders next week aimed at securing America’s artificial intelligence advantage over China. The anticipated measures include streamlining data center permitting, promoting US tech exports, and other initiatives designed to accelerate the nation’s AI capabilities, with Trump expected to deliver a major speech outlining his administration’s AI vision.

What you should know: The executive orders represent Trump’s most comprehensive AI policy framework since taking office, targeting key infrastructure and trade barriers that could slow US AI development.

• The orders will focus on expediting permitting processes for data center construction, addressing a critical bottleneck in AI infrastructure expansion.
• Tech export promotion measures are expected to help American companies compete more effectively in global AI markets.
• Trump’s AI speech will follow months of private discussions between administration officials, tech executives, and think tanks.

The big picture: National security concerns over Chinese access to American technology continue to create friction with allies and complicate business relationships across the tech sector.

• These security concerns have already disrupted Nvidia’s chip sales to the United Arab Emirates, highlighting how geopolitical tensions are affecting commercial AI partnerships.
• The administration’s focus on China extends beyond trade policy into operational security, with lawmakers scrutinizing Chinese personnel in sensitive technology roles.

Why this matters: The executive orders signal Trump’s intent to position AI competition with China as a central pillar of his technology and national security strategy, potentially reshaping how American companies develop and deploy AI systems globally.

Political pressure mounting: Congressional China hawks are intensifying oversight of Chinese involvement in American technology operations.

• Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, has requested Pentagon details about Chinese engineers working on military cloud computing systems at Microsoft, according to Reuters.
• The inquiry follows a ProPublica investigation that brought these roles to public attention, demonstrating growing scrutiny of foreign personnel in sensitive tech positions.