Third Way Statement on Trump’s Executive Order on AI Security
WASHINGTON—Third Way’s Director of Technology Policy, Ruth Whittaker, issued the following statement in response to the White House Executive Order, “Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security”:
“Regulating critical issues like AI by Executive Order doesn’t work. Since 2023, the guardrails for frontier AI models have been built up and torn down multiple times, simply by the stroke of a pen. That whiplash is a problem. AI safety rules that swing from one administration to the next are bad for public safety, bad for innovation, and bad for American leadership. Developers can’t build the next generation of American technology if the standards keep shifting—and consumers won’t trust they’ll be protected.
“Today’s Executive Order correctly recognizes that the most powerful frontier AI models pose unique risks. The pace of innovation and the breadth of capabilities being developed will require stricter oversight. The federal government should be able to restrict the release of models that pose unacceptable risks to the public.
“That’s why it is essential for Congress to step in and pass a durable, bipartisan frontier AI framework that protects the public, gives developers clear rules of the road, and preserves America’s technological edge. Congress must also ensure that the agencies tasked with overseeing safety have the resources they need—including a staff of technical experts, credible leaders, and a fully funded budget.”