OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has outlined his vision for artificial intelligence development under the incoming Trump administration, emphasizing the urgent need for substantial investment in US-built AI infrastructure and reduced regulatory barriers. In a recent Bloomberg interview, Altman expressed alignment with President-elect Donald Trump on the issue of bureaucratic obstacles hindering innovation and infrastructure development across America.
Altman stated that while he doesn’t agree with Trump on everything, he shares deep concerns about how difficult it has become to build critical infrastructure in the United States, including power plants and data centers essential for AI advancement. “It’s particularly not helpful when you think about what needs to happen for the US to lead AI. And the US really needs to lead AI,” Altman emphasized.
The OpenAI chief’s concerns extend beyond AI to his other ventures in the energy sector. He cited regulatory challenges facing Helion, his fusion power startup, and Oklo, another nuclear power company he backs. Despite Helion receiving a license from Washington State in July 2024 to operate its fusion generator, Altman noted that scaling up and obtaining full regulatory approval “will take years altogether.” Oklo continues to await approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after its application was denied in 2022.
Altman also offered measured criticism of the CHIPS Act, the Biden administration’s multibillion-dollar semiconductor manufacturing incentive program. “I think the CHIPS Act was better than doing nothing but not the thing that we should have done,” he said, suggesting there’s an opportunity for a more effective follow-on initiative. This comes as Altman reportedly seeks to raise trillions of dollars to address the global chip shortage, with discussions involving international investors including those from the United Arab Emirates.
Demonstrating his commitment to engaging with the new administration, Altman has donated $1 million of personal funds to Trump’s inauguration fund, joining tech giants like Meta, Amazon, Uber, Ford, and Toyota in contributing similar amounts. He characterized this as “a relatively small thing” and emphasized the importance of supporting presidential success regardless of party affiliation.
Significantly, Altman believes that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) will likely be developed during Trump’s term, making it crucial to “get that right.” This timeline underscores the urgency he sees in establishing proper infrastructure and regulatory frameworks for AI development.
Key Quotes
The thing I really deeply agree with the president on is, it is wild how difficult it has become to build things in the United States. Power plants, data centers, any of that kind of stuff.
Sam Altman expressed his alignment with Trump on reducing bureaucratic barriers to infrastructure development, highlighting the specific challenges facing AI-critical facilities like data centers and power plants that are essential for maintaining US leadership in artificial intelligence.
It’s particularly not helpful when you think about what needs to happen for the US to lead AI. And the US really needs to lead AI.
Altman emphasized the national security and economic imperative of American AI leadership, connecting regulatory reform directly to the country’s ability to compete globally in artificial intelligence development.
I think the CHIPS Act was better than doing nothing but not the thing that we should have done. And I think there’s a real opportunity to do something much better as a follow-on.
The OpenAI CEO offered measured criticism of the Biden administration’s signature semiconductor policy, suggesting that while well-intentioned, it hasn’t been as effective as hoped and could be improved under the new administration.
AGI will probably get developed during this president’s term, and getting that right seems really important.
Altman made a striking prediction about the timeline for Artificial General Intelligence development, underscoring why he believes engaging with the Trump administration on AI policy is crucial regardless of political differences.
Our Take
Altman’s strategic engagement with Trump reveals the pragmatic calculus of AI industry leaders who recognize that regulatory and infrastructure decisions made in the next four years will shape the technology’s trajectory for decades. His willingness to publicly align with Trump on deregulation—while maintaining some distance on other issues—demonstrates how high the stakes have become in the AI race with China.
The trillion-dollar fundraising ambitions and international investor discussions suggest Altman understands that US government support alone won’t be sufficient. However, his emphasis on domestic infrastructure and the AGI timeline creates an implicit argument for treating AI development as a matter of national priority, similar to the space race or Manhattan Project. Whether Trump’s administration will deliver the streamlined regulatory environment Altman envisions remains uncertain, but this public courtship signals that Silicon Valley’s AI leaders are betting on deregulation as the path to maintaining American technological supremacy.
Why This Matters
This story represents a critical inflection point in the relationship between Silicon Valley’s AI leadership and the incoming Trump administration. Altman’s public alignment with Trump on infrastructure and deregulation signals a potential shift in how AI development will be governed and funded over the next four years.
The implications are far-reaching: if the US fails to build adequate infrastructure for AI, it risks losing its competitive edge to China and other nations investing heavily in the technology. Data centers and power generation are fundamental bottlenecks for training increasingly large AI models, and regulatory delays could significantly hamper American AI companies’ ability to innovate.
Altman’s prediction that AGI could emerge during Trump’s presidency adds urgency to these infrastructure discussions. The development of AGI—AI systems with human-level intelligence across all domains—would represent the most transformative technological breakthrough in human history, with profound implications for the economy, national security, and society. The regulatory and infrastructure decisions made in the next four years could determine whether the US leads or follows in this crucial race, affecting everything from job markets to geopolitical power dynamics.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-hopes-donald-trump-build-new-ai-infrastructure-2025-1