Key facts
- President Donald Trump believes artificial intelligence could become "bigger than the internet."
- He advocates for regulations that support, rather than hinder, AI industry growth.
- Trump highlighted the U.S. competition with China in AI development.
- He defended the construction of new power plants and data centers to support AI infrastructure.
- Major tech companies have pledged to fund new electricity generation for their data centers.
- Trump encouraged local governments to support AI infrastructure projects due to economic benefits.
President Donald Trump stated that artificial intelligence could become "bigger than the internet" and urged for regulations that do not slow down the industry, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to maintain its competitive edge over China. During a White House gathering, Trump called for a regulatory approach that supports continued leadership in AI development.
Trump highlighted the ongoing competition with China in the AI sector, noting that Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming visit would likely include discussions on the technology. He also defended the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure, including data centers and new power plants, suggesting that these new facilities would provide excess electricity to the existing, aging grid.
Several major technology companies, including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI, have committed to funding the new electricity generation and infrastructure required for their data centers. Trump encouraged local officials to embrace AI infrastructure projects, citing the significant job creation, tax revenue, and investment they can bring.
However, Trump acknowledged that the AI industry faces public relations challenges due to growing opposition concerning the environmental impact of data centers, including electricity consumption and water usage. Protests have occurred, and some states have considered moratoriums on data center development. Pennsylvania's governor recently signed an executive order imposing new requirements on large data centers, and financial institutions are increasingly factoring community opposition into their financing decisions for such projects.