AdvertisementAdvertisementPresident Donald Trump meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Washington. (Photo: AP/Alex Brandon)24 Jul 2025 01:12AM (Updated: 24 Jul 2025 01:13AM) Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInRead a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Wednesday (Jul 23) released a sweeping artificial intelligence blueprint that aims to accelerate US leadership in the sector by loosening environmental regulations and facilitating the export of AI chips and software to allied nations.President Donald Trump is set to mark the rollout with a speech emphasising the strategic importance of winning the global AI race, a competition he says will shape the future of economics, defence and geopolitics.EXPORTS TO ALLIES, REGULATORY ROLLBACKThe plan includes nearly 90 recommendations and shifts away from the Biden administration’s restrictive approach. It calls for the creation of full-stack “secure export packages” hardware, models, software and standards, that the US can share with friendly governments.“We're establishing a program led by the departments of Commerce and State to partner with industry to deliver secure full-stack AI export packages… to America’s friends and allies,” said Michael Kratsios, head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.Trump blocked the export of Nvidia’s H20 chip to China in April but allowed sales to resume in July, prompting criticism from Republicans. The plan does not mention national security concerns around the chip, which had been designed to stay just within the limits of earlier US restrictions.The Summit supercomputer is seen on the campus of Oak Ridge National Laboratory on June 10, 2019 in Oak Ridge, Tenn. (Photo: Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP/C.B. Schmelter)DATA CENTRES AND ENERGY DEMANDSThe blueprint also proposes fast-tracking AI data centre construction by loosening federal environmental requirements, including exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act and streamlined permits under the Clean Water Act.The administration aims to make more federal land available for projects and is preparing further executive orders to remove obstacles to AI infrastructure growth.The launch event, titled Winning the AI Race, will feature top officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Economic Adviser Kevin Hassett. It is hosted by White House AI and crypto adviser David Sacks and the co-hosts of the All-In podcast.Trump’s AI strategy, shaped in part by members of the Silicon Valley-backed Hill and Valley Forum, reverses several Biden-era restrictions. These included export limits on AI chips and a so-called “diffusion rule” capping the amount of computing power foreign buyers could obtain.Trump has also struck deals with countries like the United Arab Emirates, allowing expanded access to advanced US chips after earlier limits tied to concerns about Chinese technology transfers.The AI boom has contributed to a surge in US electricity demand, reaching record levels in 2025 after nearly two decades of stagnation. The administration is expected to announce additional measures to help Big Tech secure energy for data centre expansion.Source: Reuters/fsSign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST