The election will have a direct effect on the US policy regarding artificial intelligence (AI). The major takeaway is that a Kamala Harris administration will continue with the Biden Administration’s “Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, while Donald Trump’s campaign platform includes plans to repeal Biden’s executive order.

The Council on Foreign Relations compared the positions of the two candidates:

Trump's view on AI

As president, Trump unveiled the first national strategies on emerging fields such as AI and cybersecurity. He has painted the development of artificial intelligence as an arms race with China while feuding with the U.S. tech giants that are leading the technology’s development.

Harris's view on AI

Harris says Washington should do more to ensure that companies use AI tools responsibly. She has overseen initial efforts to create a federal approach to AI governance, and the Biden-Harris administration has taken steps to slow China’s development of advanced technologies.

More from the candidates

In the Trump campaign’s 2024 GOP Platform, the document states, “We will repeal Joe Biden’s dangerous Executive Order that hinders AI Innovation, and imposes Radical Leftwing ideas on the development of this technology. In its place, Republicans support AI Development rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Like most campaign statements, it is short on specifics beyond the commitment to repeal Biden’s order.

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Harris was involved on the development and drafting of Biden’s executive order on AI. In choosing to continue with Biden’s order, the Harris campaign is committing to a list of very specific positions on AI. These include:

• Developing new standards for AI safety and security

• Protecting Americans' privacy

• Advancing equity and civil rights

• Supporting workers

• Promoting innovation and competition

• Advancing American leadership abroad

• Ensuring responsible government use of AI

In its intro to the executive order, the Administration asserts that the purpose of the “Executive Order is to ensure that America leads the way in seizing the promise and managing the risks of artificial intelligence.”

What does AI think about the candidates’ positions?

Since the stakes are high for AI, we decided to ask AI to offer its views of the candidates’ positions. We asked both ChatGPT and Copilot. While ChatGPT’s views were very general, Copilot offered more details. So here is Copilot’s view of each candidate’s take on AI.

Trump’s position:

Donald Trump’s stance on AI is largely deregulatory. He has expressed concerns that excessive oversight could hinder America’s competitive edge in the global AI race. Trump has committed to rolling back President Biden’s executive order on AI, which he views as overly restrictive. His approach emphasizes minimal government intervention, aligning with free-market advocates. However, Trump has not provided detailed policies on AI regulation, making his exact plans somewhat unclear. His alliance with figures like Elon Musk, who also advocates for minimal regulation, further underscores his deregulatory stance.

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Harris’s position:

Kamala Harris advocates for responsible AI regulation, emphasizing safety, privacy, and ethical considerations. As Vice President, she played a key role in the Biden administration’s AI policies, including the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights and a landmark executive order on AI. Harris supports balancing innovation with regulations to prevent misuse and ensure AI benefits all Americans. Her approach includes engaging with tech leaders to promote transparency and accountability in AI development. Harris’ stance reflects a commitment to harnessing AI’s potential while safeguarding public interests.