U.S. Pushes Forward in Global AI Race with New White House Action Plan
The U.S. government is accelerating its efforts to secure global dominance in artificial intelligence. A new 23-page AI Action Plan released by the White House outlines the country’s bold strategy, calling it a “race for global AI leadership.”
Launched by President Donald Trump and supported by three executive orders, the plan describes AI as an industrial, informational, and cultural revolution, capable of reshaping global power dynamics.
Removing Barriers to Innovation
One of the plan’s top priorities is removing regulations that slow down AI development. It calls on agencies to eliminate outdated policies, expand infrastructure, and tighten export controls on rival nations like China, while promoting U.S. technology among allies.
Early in his term, President Trump repealed the Biden-era AI executive order and introduced a new directive focused on “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in AI.”
Deutsche Bank Highlights 3 Key AI Themes
In a recent report, Deutsche Bank analysts identified three main themes behind the U.S. government’s AI push.
1. Innovation: Empowering U.S. Companies
The U.S. is home to 42 of the world’s top 50 AI firms, with 33 based in California. American companies secured nearly 75% of all global private and venture capital investment in AI last year, according to the Stanford AI Index.
Deutsche Bank noted that the U.S. produced 40 major AI models last year, compared to 15 from China and just three from Europe.
Instead of following the European Union’s regulatory approach, the U.S. relies on existing laws. While some U.S. states push for broader rules, federal efforts focus on deregulation. The plan urges the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to review enforcement policies to avoid stifling innovation.
This may benefit major tech firms like Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), currently under antitrust investigation, according to the analysts.
2. Infrastructure: Powering AI Growth
AI development requires massive computing power and energy. While often seen as a cloud-based technology, AI relies on data centers, many of which are in the United States.
The White House plan promotes faster permitting, modernized power grids, and investment in nuclear and advanced energy systems.
Power consumption by U.S. data centers rose from under 2% in 2018 to 4.4% in 2023, with projections suggesting it could reach 12% by 2028. In 2024, North America invested $114 billion in grid infrastructure, surpassing China and Europe, according to the International Energy Agency.
3. International AI: Strengthening National Security
National security plays a key role in the plan. It promotes a global alliance for AI while working to prevent adversaries from benefiting from U.S. innovation.
The document singles out China, whose AI technologies are improving quickly. The launch of DeepSeek’s model earlier this year in China sparked a sell-off in U.S. tech stocks, raising competitive concerns.
In response, the U.S. is tightening export rules and pressuring allies to do the same. Penalties such as tariffs may be imposed on countries that fail to comply. The plan also supports promoting U.S.-built AI abroad and using tools like location verification to enforce restrictions.
Balancing Innovation with Responsibility
While the tech sector has welcomed the plan, the White House also aims to address public concerns. The strategy states that AI should enhance—not replace—human labor. It also stresses that AI systems must be free from ideological bias.
