After completing the nomination of Cabinet 2.0 candidates, Donald Trump recently announced that he would appoint a “minister of artificial intelligence” dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI) affairs, responsible for integrating AI policy, national security and industrial development.

Although the candidate for the position of AI Minister has not been determined yet, according to public information, Elon Musk, who is responsible for leading the “Government Efficiency Department,” will not hold the position.

What will the newly appointed AI Minister do?

Promote the development of AI technology in the United States.
In October 2023, Joe Biden signed the Executive Order on the Safe, Reliable and Credible Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, declaring to address the threat that artificial intelligence technology may pose to civil rights, privacy and national security, while promoting innovation, competition and the application of artificial intelligence in public services.

However, Donald Trump clearly objected to this order. He believed that it might cause serious damage to American AI start-ups and inhibit the innovation vitality in the AI field.
During this year’s general election, Donald Trump solemnly promised that once elected, he would repeal Joe Biden’s executive order and explicitly write this idea into the Republican election platform.
Donald Trump and his team firmly believe that abolishing this administrative order will help stimulate the innovation potential in the AI field and reduce the development obstacles caused by excessive regulation.
It can be foreseen that after the AI Minister officially takes office, he will launch a series of policy measures to relax AI regulation under the instruction of Trump.

This will probably be in sharp contrast to the “equal emphasis on safety and supervision” emphasized by Joe Biden.

Promote the digital transformation of the government.
During the election, Donald Trump expressed his concern and criticism on the efficiency and waste of the US government on many occasions and in statements.
It is reported that after the official establishment of the AI Minister, he will also collaborate with Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) to use artificial intelligence to solve problems such as government resource waste and welfare fraud.

At present, the federal government does have a huge demand for AI technology. If the chief AI officers of various institutions established under Joe Biden’s tenure continue to exist during the Trump period, the new AI minister may cooperate with these AI officers.
This will help promote the digital transformation of government departments and improve the quality and efficiency of government services.
Analysts believe that the appointment of Minister AI will not require Senate approval, which means that Minister AI can start to achieve Donald Trump’s goals more quickly.
Promote ‘America First’ in the field of AI.

Currently, artificial intelligence has become the core field of technological competition among major powers in the 21st century. Donald Trump’s establishment of the post of AI minister naturally aims to win China in this important field.
Maintain technological hegemony.
Artificial intelligence technology is accelerating a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation that is impacting the world.
Donald Trump, who claims to “make the United States great again”, naturally wants to maintain the hegemonic position of the United States in this field.
In 2017, the Donald Trump government released the National Security Strategy Report, which established the importance of AI development in the US national security strategy.
In 2019, Donald Trump signed the first US presidential executive order on AI development, namely, the Executive Order on Maintaining American AI Leadership, declaring that he would mobilize more federal funds and resources for AI research and development from the national strategic level to meet the challenges from “strategic competitors and competitors”.

During this year’s election campaign, Donald Trump also made several commitments to ensure that the United States is in the lead in cutting-edge technology and increase investment in unmanned aerial vehicles, robots and artificial intelligence.
Today, Donald Trump proposes to establish the position of AI minister, which is to strengthen the leadership of the United States in the global AI competition and maintain the scientific and technological hegemony of the United States.
Recently, Donald Trump announced in a high profile that after taking office, he would impose a 25% tariff on all goods in Mexico and Canada, and impose an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

Donald Trump’s trade protectionism policy is likely to be extended to the AI field, and new trade barriers will be built by means of technical blockade, industrialization restrictions and industrial chain value remodeling.
At present, the candidate for the position of AI Minister has not been announced, but whoever it is, is likely to implement Trump’s will, strengthen competition with China in the field of artificial intelligence, and further increase pressure on China’s AI industry.
At that time, the United States may further restrict the export of high computing power chip products to China, thereby delaying the development of China’s artificial intelligence industry.
According to Donald Trump’s style, the United States may also coerce its allies to keep pace with the United States or take more stringent measures to build an “iron curtain” in China’s high-tech field.
Leading industry rules.
For a long time, the United States has controlled the “rules of the game” in most industries and fields around the world, and has tasted the sweetness of it.
On February 26th of this year, the United States, along with 10 other countries including the United Kingdom and Australia, issued a joint statement claiming to have reached “common principles” in the development of 6G.

This reflects the unwillingness of Western countries, led by the United States, to China’s leading position in the 5G field. They are attempting to gain a more advantageous position in the upcoming 6G era through a “preemptive” strategy, in order to seize hegemony in 6G rules.
At present, multiple countries and regions have established specialized artificial intelligence management or coordination agencies, and the United States is naturally not willing to fall behind.
Donald Trump set up an AI minister, which means that the United States wants to take the lead in shaping the technical standards, ethical norms and market rules of AI on the international stage, so as to enhance the meaning of global influence and voice in the AI field.
However, the development of technology has its objective laws.
Donald Trump’s appointment of AI minister is ostensibly to attach importance to AI technology development, but if he violates the law and artificially blocks scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, it may be counterproductive.