U.S. Government Expands Control Over Artificial Intelligence Development

The Federal government of the United States has maintained a consistent strategy of asserting control over artificial intelligence development through a series of executive orders and legislative actions. This effort began with the 2019 John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act and continued through the administrations of both Donald Trump and Joseph Biden.

Donald Trump established early frameworks via the 2019 Maintaining American Leadership on Artificial Intelligence order and subsequent 2020 guidance on the AI technology stack. Joseph Biden expanded these efforts by implementing the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence framework. These actions prioritize military objectives and the steering of innovation through subsidies and industrial policy.

While public debate centers on AI-driven job displacement, some observers suggest that political actors may use these anxieties to expand the administrative state. There are specific concerns that the narrative of labor loss is being used to justify the implementation of Universal Basic Income, which critics argue could create a permanent custodial state and increase government dependency.