Trump is Targeting 'Woke AI.' Here's What That Means
TL;DR
- President Trump signed an executive order prohibiting "woke AI" in federal contracts.
- The order aims for AI models to be ideologically neutral and free from perceived biases related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
- Experts express concern about the feasibility of creating unbiased AI and the implications for the technology industry.
- The executive orders fall under a broader "AI Action Plan" aimed at positioning the U.S. as a leader in artificial intelligence.
In a significant policy shift, President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order targeting what his administration has labeled “woke AI,” potentially reshaping federal practices in artificial intelligence. The order, part of the administration's "AI Action Plan," emphasizes the procurement of AI models deemed free of ideological bias—specifically those associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The Executive Order and Its Implications
During remarks at the “Winning the AI Race” summit in Washington, Trump laid out his vision for a future where federal AI models must adhere to a set of principles titled “Unbiased AI Principles.” This directive prohibits the government from contracting companies offering AI solutions that incorporate what the administration refers to as "ideological dogmas"[1][2].
“The American people do not want woke Marxist lunacy in the AI models,” Trump asserted, underscoring his administration's opposition to DEI-related frameworks that he argues distort factual information and undermine public trust in AI systems[1][2][8].
Key components of the order include:
Truth-Seeking Principle: AI models must prioritize historical accuracy, scientific integrity, and objectivity in their outputs.
Ideological Neutrality: The models should not encode partisan or ideological judgments unless directly prompted by users.
The order has considerable ramifications, particularly for major AI companies that have historically collaborated with federal agencies. Notable entities such as Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic have recently been awarded substantial government contracts, amounting to $200 million, to advance AI technologies for the Department of Defense[6][8].
Expert Reactions and Concerns
While the intent behind the executive order is ostensibly to eliminate bias in AI, experts within the field have raised alarms regarding the challenges of achieving such neutrality. Critics argue that determining what constitutes ideological bias is subjective, complicating the implementation of the new standards. Neil Sahota, an AI technologist, expressed skepticism, suggesting that shifting to "anti-woke" AI models in pursuit of government contracts could inadvertently undermine existing safeguards[4][6][7].
Additionally, a growing chorus of AI researchers highlights that biases often inherently exist in models since they are reflections of the data they are trained on. For example, a study indicated that popular AI models sometimes produce outputs perceived as left-leaning, which could influence the perceptions and responses shaped by the Trump administration's policies[2][6].
Conclusion
President Trump’s executive order on “woke AI” marks a stark pivot in federal AI policy, emphasizing the government's commitment to ideological neutrality and the exclusion of diversity-related frameworks in AI development. This move not only signals the administration's larger campaign against what it considers liberal biases pervasive in technology but also raises substantial questions about the future landscape of artificial intelligence regulation.
As the technology sector braces for adjustments in response to these directives, observers will be closely monitoring how the balance between innovation, bias elimination, and ideological neutrality will play out in practical applications. This policy shift may not only affect the economics of AI development but also who gets access to government contracts moving forward.
References
[^1]: Will Oremus (July 24, 2025). "Trump is targeting ‘woke AI.’ Here’s what that means.". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
[^2]: Bobby Allyn (July 23, 2025). "What does Trump’s ‘Woke AI’ executive order mean for tech?". NPR. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
[^3]: "Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Prevents Woke AI in the Federal Government". The White House. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
[^4]: Amna Nawaz (July 23, 2025). "What’s in Trump’s new AI policy and why it matters". PBS. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
[^5]: Nick Robins-Early and Lauren Gambino (July 23, 2025). "Trump signs executive orders targeting ‘woke’ AI models and regulation". The Guardian. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
[^6]: Lisa Eadicicco (July 24, 2025). "Are AI models ‘woke’? The answer isn’t so simple". CNN. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
[^7]: Bobby Allyn (July 23, 2025). "Trump's new AI policies keep culture war focus on tech companies". NPR. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
[^8]: Dylan Butts (July 24, 2025). "No ‘woke AI’ in Washington, says Trump, as he launches AI action plan". CNBC. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
Metadata
- Keywords: Trump, Woke AI, Artificial Intelligence, Executive Order, DEI, Ideological Neutrality, AI Action Plan
