Trump unveils AI strategy targeting China while promoting open-source models

The White House has unveiled a new artificial intelligence policy plan aimed at achieving “global dominance” in the AI sector, with President Donald Trump calling for open-source AI models to be freely available worldwide. The plan also directs the Commerce Department to investigate Chinese AI models for potential alignment with Communist Party messaging and restricts federal AI funding to states with burdensome regulations.

Key policy priorities: The administration’s strategy centers on promoting open AI development while scrutinizing foreign competitors.

• Open-source and open-weight AI models should be made freely available by developers for global download and modification.
• The Commerce Department will research Chinese AI models specifically for alignment with Chinese Communist Party talking points and censorship practices.
• Federal AI funding will be restricted from states implementing “burdensome” AI regulations.

Why this matters: This policy framework signals a significant shift toward aggressive AI competition with China while promoting domestic innovation through regulatory streamlining.

• The open-source mandate could accelerate global AI development by removing barriers to model access and modification.
• Investigating Chinese AI models for political bias reflects growing concerns about foreign influence in AI systems.
• Conditioning federal funding on state regulatory approaches creates pressure for AI-friendly policies at the local level.

The big picture: Trump’s AI policy represents a dual approach of promoting American technological leadership while containing potential threats from Chinese AI development.

• The emphasis on “global dominance” indicates the administration views AI as a critical national security and economic priority.
• By encouraging open-source development, the U.S. aims to set global standards for AI accessibility and transparency.
• The policy continues broader tensions between the U.S. and China over technology leadership and influence.