President Donald Trump has delayed a planned executive order on artificial intelligence oversight because of worries it might slow U.S. AI progress and hurt the country’s standing against China.
Trump delayed the order because he “didn’t like certain aspects” of it. The order aimed to boost government oversight of advanced AI models, but some worried it could lead to too much regulation and hurt U.S. competitiveness in the global AI race.
AI companies were expected to preview advanced models
The planned executive order would have set up a system where AI companies shared advanced models with the government before releasing them.
Engadget reported that the order at first would have required AI companies to share advanced models with the government before release so officials could check for safety risks. Later, the proposal was changed to make participation voluntary.
The Wall Street Journal said the draft order would have asked AI developers to voluntarily show advanced models to the government, mainly to address cybersecurity risks.
The White House had a draft order ready that would have asked companies to submit models 90 days before releasing them to the public, but taking part was described as strictly voluntary.
Big Tech pressure reportedly shaped the delay
The delay happened after tech leaders warned that even a voluntary system might slow down AI development.
AI industry leaders like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and former U.S. AI and crypto czar David Sacks opposed the plan. They told Trump it could slow down AI technology, which is now important to the U.S. economy.
The delay was as a sign of disagreement within the administration. Some officials focused on innovation and economic growth, while others wanted stronger protections for national security and sectors like hospitals and banks.
The decision came after the White House had already invited technology leaders to a signing ceremony planned for Wednesday afternoon.
Trump says he wants AI growth protected
Trump has said the delay is meant to avoid blocking AI development.
Trump said that he thought the measure “could have been a blocker” and wanted to make sure it would not slow down AI technology. He postponed the signing because he was worried the order could hurt the United States’ competitive edge, especially against China.
This move matches the administration’s general hands-off approach to AI regulation. Trump has said the U.S. should let AI grow and avoid stopping it with politics or foolish rules.
Safety concerns remain unresolved
The delay does not take away concerns about the risks of powerful AI systems.
One reason the administration considered the order was worry about advanced AI tools that can find cybersecurity weaknesses faster than humans. The report mentioned Anthropic’s Mythos, a model said to spot cybersecurity problems very quickly.
The proposed model-preview system was linked to cybersecurity risks and worries about advanced AI systems being released without enough government oversight.
People who support stronger oversight say advanced AI tools could be dangerous if used by state actors to find weaknesses, attack important systems, or target sensitive areas. Opponents worry that early government review could become a hidden regulatory barrier, even if it is officially voluntary.
No new signing date yet
Right now, it is not clear what will happen with the executive order.
Trump has not said how the order might change or when it could be signed. The report also said the order might be revisited, but it is not clear when a new draft could come out.
The delay highlights the main challenge in U.S. AI policy: Washington wants to stay ahead of China and keep AI’s economic momentum, but policymakers also face pressure to address cybersecurity, safety, labor, and public trust risks.
For Big Tech, the pause is a short-term win against stronger federal oversight. For the public, it leaves a bigger question open: how much should the government see into the most powerful AI systems before they reach the market?
