OpenAI courts Trump with its vision of ‘AI in America’

In December, Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, donated $1 million to President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inaugural fund, joining a number of other tech executives working to improve their relations with Mr. Trump.

Today, he and his company are laying out their vision for the development of artificial intelligence in the United States, hoping to shape how the next presidential administration will handle this increasingly important technology.

On Monday, OpenAI released what it calls its economic blueprint for “AI in America,” suggesting ways for policymakers to boost AI development in the United States, minimize the risks posed by the technology and to maintain a lead over China.

“We believe America must act now to maximize AI’s possibilities while minimizing its harms,” Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s head of global policy, wrote in the 15-page document. “We want to work with policymakers to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared responsibly and equitably. »

OpenAI kicked off the AI ​​boom in late 2022 with the release of online chatbot ChatGPT. The company continues to dominate the industry but faces countless competitors. One of its biggest rivals, xAI, is led by Elon Musk, who has developed a close relationship with Mr. Trump.

Many AI companies and independent experts believe that technologies like ChatGPT can increase economic growth by accelerating work and research in areas as broad as computer programming, medicine, education and finance. But the continued development of these technologies requires enormous amounts of raw computing power and electricity.