Individuals, industry representatives, and local government agencies have submitted over 10,000 comments to the White House in response to its ongoing development of a national artificial intelligence policy, officially referred to as the AI Action Plan. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has now published these submissions in an expansive PDF document totaling 18,480 pages.
Issues raised in the comments largely revolve around intellectual property protections, AI-related environmental impacts, tariffs affecting AI growth, and ideological biases in AI technology. This feedback arrives at a contentious moment, as President Donald Trump’s administration realigns federal priorities on artificial intelligence. Earlier this year, President Trump rescinded an AI-related executive order enacted by former President Joe Biden, which had mandated the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish guidelines aimed at identifying and mitigating biases and other errors within AI models. Trump’s administration characterized these prior regulations as overly burdensome and argued they risked forcing companies to disclose sensitive trade secrets.
Additionally, Trump issued a new executive order instructing federal agencies to foster the advancement of AI technologies that are “free from ideological bias,” aligning with interests in enhancing national security, economic competitiveness, and overall societal well-being. Notably absent from Trump’s policy directives were references to addressing discrimination or biases in AI systems—a central component in Biden’s previous initiative.
The published comments highlight deep divisions within stakeholders regarding the regulation of AI. Numerous respondents voiced concern that current AI training practices exploit creative individuals whose works have been utilized without appropriate consent or financial compensation. These comments advocate stronger intellectual property safeguards. Conversely, some industry supporters, notably including venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, cautioned against excessive regulation, warning it may stifle advancements in AI technology development.
Tech companies like Google and OpenAI previously expressed support for a regulatory environment more supportive of AI training methods, emphasizing fair-use principles in model training processes. Public submissions from various advocacy and industry groups, including Americans for Prosperity, the Future of Life Institute, and the American Academy of Nursing, underscore the need for ongoing federal investment in AI research and science—especially in the context of recent cutbacks in government grants. Many experts have criticized extensive budget reductions championed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency as detrimental to future innovations.
Tariffs emerged as another contentious topic in the comments submitted. The Data Center Coalition, representing significant data center interests, warned that extensive tariffs on imported infrastructure components could significantly hamper domestic progress in AI technology. Similarly, the Information Technology Industry Council, which includes high-profile members such as Amazon, Intel, and Microsoft, urged a tariff approach aimed at balancing fair protection for domestic markets against disruptive escalations in international trade conflicts.
Surprisingly minimal attention was directed toward alleged political censorship involving AI technologies—a common talking point among Trump’s inner circle. Elon Musk and David Sacks, an advisor overseeing crypto and AI policy, previously accused mainstream AI platforms, especially ChatGPT, of censoring conservative viewpoints. However, the public submissions did not strongly reflect this specific criticism.
Despite the administration’s concerns, technical difficulties continue to cloud efforts aimed at eliminating politically perceived biases in AI. Musk’s own AI endeavor, xAI, has notably encountered significant challenges in designing chatbots that appear politically neutral.
Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has intensified its efforts to consolidate leadership on AI policy. Most recently, President Trump secured Senate approval for Michael Kratsios—who had directed AI policy during Trump’s earlier term—as head of the OSTP. Additionally, President Trump appointed former venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan to a senior advisory position overseeing White House AI strategy late last year.
