Elon Musk Could Be Shaping AI Policy In A Second Trump Administration

Now that former President Donald Trump is heading back to the White House for another term, speculation is swirling about the advisers he will choose to surround himself with for the next four years.

One advocacy group hopes to influence that process with a petition calling on Trump to select billionaire tech titan Elon Musk to play a central role in how the U.S. regulates AI.

Who’s in the group?

Americans for Responsible Innovation, despite being led by former U.S. Rep. Brad Carson (a Democrat), is reaching out to the incoming Republican president to make the case that Musk is the right choice to serve as Trump’s special adviser on artificial intelligence.

Even though ARI makes it clear that Musk isn’t a perfect candidate and has a few potential conflicts of interest within the realm of AI, the group maintains that certain guardrails can be put in place to keep him honest.

Why choose Elon?

It’s no secret that Musk has been an influential figure throughout the development and rapid spread of AI in recent years. He was a co-founder of OpenAI, which created the popular ChatGPT platform. Since then, he has expressed opposition to that company’s business practices and is currently at the helm of another AI company, xAI.

Perhaps more notable, however, is his activism on behalf of implementing a moratorium on AI development.

Musk said his motivation, like others concerned about the ramifications of AI, stems from a desire to address potential issues before they become serious problems — but some of his critics have speculated that it’s a cynical ploy to gain an upper hand on his rivals.

Musk has already discussed with Trump the possibility of joining his administration to implement government efficiency measures, but ARI is convinced he could fill both roles.

Chris Agee November 12th, 2024

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