AI models need not bear the cost for content, claims Trump
In a significant move, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a series of decrees on July 24, 2025, as part of his broader "AI Action Plan." These decrees are designed to remove legal and regulatory barriers perceived as hindering innovation and competitiveness in the AI sector, with the ultimate goal of making the U.S. a leading force in AI globally.
One of the key aspects of these decrees concerns AI copyright laws. Trump has declared that American AI models will no longer have to comply with copyright payments for content used in their training. This decision is based on the argument that when a person reads a book or an article, they gain knowledge but do not infringe copyright or require contracts with content providers. By analogy, AI models should be treated similarly, removing copyright as a barrier to AI development in the U.S.
In terms of data center approvals, Trump's decrees aim to expedite government approvals and ease environmental regulations for AI infrastructure, including government data centers. Any states imposing excessive regulatory hurdles that delay AI expansion may face penalties in the form of federal funding cuts. The decrees also encourage harmonization of diverse state regulations to streamline AI development infrastructure.
Other decrees include the removal of export barriers on AI technology to promote global competitiveness, the mandate that government-use large language models be neutral and free from bias, the promotion of workforce training in AI skills, and the establishment of a single federal AI regulatory standard to override burdensome and disparate state AI laws, reducing litigation and regulatory complexity.
The U.S. tech industry, including leading AI companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Nvidia, is a significant player in the global AI market, competing fiercely with foreign companies such as DeepSeek, a Chinese startup. The industry largely backed Trump last year, hoping that his policies would benefit their growth and competition.
These moves are aimed at making the U.S. a global leader in AI by removing legal and regulatory barriers and promoting the use of American AI models abroad. The American tech industry is optimistic about the potential benefits these decrees could bring to their sector.
- The U.S. policy-and-legislation changes, signed by President Donald Trump, have rendered American AI models exempt from copyright payments for training materials, drawing a parallel between content consumption and AI model operations.
- Trump's decrees are streamlining AI development infrastructure in the U.S. by expediting government approvals and easing environmental regulations for data centers, with penalties for states imposing excessive regulatory hurdles.
- The removal of export barriers on AI technology under Trump's decrees aims to promote a competitive edge for American AI companies in the global market, such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Nvidia, while facing competition from foreign entities like DeepSeek, a Chinese startup.
