POLITICO Tech An exit interview with Trump’s AI policy adviser
21 snips
Aug 14, 2025 Dean Ball, former senior policy adviser in the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shares insights on his role in crafting Trump's AI Action Plan. He discusses the crucial balance in AI regulation to encourage innovation while managing risks. Ball highlights the potential bubble in AI investment and the implications of allowing China to acquire American microchips. He emphasizes the ongoing challenges of copyright in AI, including fair compensation for artists, and the necessity for strategic collaboration between government and private sectors in guiding future AI development.
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Government Is High-Leverage, Private Sector Sets Standards
- Government is a high-leverage place for AI policy but private sector will drive many technical and governance standards.
- Dean Ball positioned his strength as synthesizing policy, not long-term implementation work.
Re-Regulation And Standards Are Key Roles
- Government should sometimes re-regulate uses of AI rather than simply deregulate, especially in established sectors like financial services.
- Agencies can codify industry-led consensus standards and play a diplomatic role in export controls and global leadership.
Leadership Includes A Regulatory Alternative
- The action plan aims for American leadership but not solely to beat China; it's also about offering a different regulatory path than many other countries.
- Ball criticizes preemptive regulation as potentially dangerous and advocates showing an alternative that thrives with AI.