Former President Donald Trump delivered a provocative address at the United Nations General Assembly today, signaling what could be a dramatic shift in American foreign policy priorities if he returns to office. While much of the speech focused on traditional geopolitical concerns, tech industry observers noted his brief but significant comments on artificial intelligence regulation, suggesting a potential rollback of multinational AI governance frameworks currently under development.
Trump’s remarks on technology sovereignty and AI development highlighted his ‘America First’ approach to emerging technologies, emphasizing domestic innovation over international cooperation. This stance contrasts sharply with the Biden administration’s support for the UN’s ongoing AI safety summit initiatives and collaborative regulatory frameworks. For AI companies and developers, this policy divergence represents a critical fork in the road for how generative AI technologies might be governed in the coming years.
The speech comes at a pivotal moment as nations worldwide grapple with establishing ethical guidelines and safety standards for increasingly powerful AI systems. Industry leaders are closely watching how political shifts might impact the regulatory landscape, with some advocating for consistent international standards while others prefer country-specific approaches that might allow for faster innovation cycles. As the 2024 election approaches, the contrasting visions for AI governance between the current and former administrations will likely become an increasingly important technology policy battleground.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/23/politics/united-nations-trump-speech-annotated