“Sam Altman Backs Trump in Fight Against Red Tape Blocking AI Progress”
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is optimistic about the potential impact of Donald Trump’s second administration on AI development. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Altman emphasized the importance of reducing bureaucratic hurdles and investing in infrastructure to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in AI innovation.
“The thing I deeply agree with the president on is how wild it’s become to build anything in the United States,” Altman said. “Power plants, data centers—bureaucratic obstacles are slowing down progress, and that’s a major issue for the country.”
Altman highlighted that these regulatory challenges extend beyond AI, affecting other industries like fusion energy and nuclear power. He cited Helion, a fusion power startup he’s invested in, which recently received approval to operate its generator but still faces long regulatory timelines for scaling production. Similarly, nuclear power company Oklo, another Altman-backed venture, has struggled to secure licensing from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Altman also critiqued the CHIPS Act, a semiconductor manufacturing incentive championed by President Biden, as a missed opportunity for greater impact. “The CHIPS Act was better than doing nothing, but it hasn’t been as effective as we hoped,” he said, calling for a more robust follow-up effort.
As the U.S. gears up for Trump’s return to the presidency, Altman hopes for a renewed focus on cutting red tape and building critical infrastructure to maintain leadership in AI and other high-tech industries.
Sam Altman Backs Trump Administration with $1M Donation, Eyes Trillions for AI and Chip Development
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is positioning himself as a key player in shaping policy under the incoming Trump administration. According to the Wall Street Journal, Altman is working to raise trillions of dollars to address the global chip shortage, holding discussions with international investors, including representatives from the United Arab Emirates.
Altman recently contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, telling Business Insider in December that he believes Trump “will lead our country into the age of AI” and that supporting the president-elect’s efforts is crucial to ensuring the U.S. stays ahead in artificial intelligence.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Altman emphasized his bipartisan approach: “I support any president. AGI [Artificial General Intelligence] will likely be developed during this administration, and getting it right is incredibly important.” He downplayed his inauguration donation as a minor gesture, saying, “I think that’s a relatively small thing. But I do think we all should wish for the president’s success.”
Altman’s push for infrastructure improvements and regulatory reform aligns with Trump’s platform of reducing bureaucratic hurdles. As the new administration prepares to take office, Altman joins a growing list of corporate leaders, including Meta, Amazon, Uber, Ford, and Toyota, who have each donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund in hopes of influencing policies over the next four years.