US President Donald Trump has established a 13-member science and technology council, with a focus on artificial intelligence, to advise the administration on policy matters. The council, comprising prominent technology industry leaders, aims to weigh in on key issues, including AI policy. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, Larry Ellison, Executive Chairman of Oracle, and Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, are among the initial members appointed to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). They will be joined by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and AMD CEO Lisa Su, among others. The council's primary objective is to ensure the US maintains its leadership in AI, a strategic area of competition with China.

Trump has made AI a central priority of his second term, framing it as a crucial arena of competition with China. The administration has already taken steps to accelerate private-sector innovation and reduce regulatory barriers in the field. The council's role in shaping Washington's response to intensifying global competition in AI is expected to be significant. The White House has indicated that additional members will be appointed to the council in the near future.

The latest appointments signal closer alignment between the administration and major technology companies. This development has sparked interest in the tech industry, with many watching to see how the council will shape the administration's AI policy.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

The Trump administration's move to establish a science and technology council, with a focus on AI, marks a significant shift in its approach to the technology. By appointing prominent industry leaders to the council, the administration is signaling its commitment to working closely with the tech sector to drive innovation and maintain US leadership in AI. The council's role in shaping Washington's response to global competition in AI will be crucial, and its impact will be closely watched.