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President Donald Trump unveiled this week an ambitious plan aimed at reshaping the landscape of American artificial intelligence, combining a massive plan Private sector initiative of $ 500 billion with radical executive measures which delete regulatory barriers – while arouse controversy on financing requests and environmental concerns.
Trump’s master’s centerpiece, nicknamed “Stargate project»Gather an improbable alliance of technology giants: Sam Altman’s OpenAi, Oracle of Larry Ellison and Softbank under the direction of Masayoshi Son. The initiative aims to build up to 20 Massive AI data centers across the United States, the first installation is already under construction in Abilene, Texas.
“This is a resounding declaration of confidence in the potential of America,” Trump said during the announcement to the White House. However, this daring initiative immediately collided with skepticism on one unexpected side: the own advisor to Trump and technological billionaire. Elon Musk.
Elon Musk calls into question the funding of $ 500 billion in Stargate while the rivalry with Openai intensifies
“They don’t really have money” Musk wrote on x.com (Formerly Twitter), saying that Softbank had obtained “much less than $ 10 billion”. This public confrontation between Musk and Altman, former collaborators who have become rivalshighlights the complex dynamics within Trump’s technological coalition.
Altman Quickly countered the statement of MuskThe inviting to visit the Abilene site while stressing that “what is great for the country is not always what is optimal for your businesses” – a reference to the competing projects of Elon Musk in terms of IA .
In fact, they don’t have the money
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 22, 2025
Sector analysts note that the financing structure remains opaque. Even if the initial commitment amounts to $ 100 billion, the journey around $ 500 billion seems to be largely dependent on the future fundraising and market conditions. Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella, whose company is notably absent from the main announcement despite its OPENAI partnership, has offered measured support: “All I know is that I am good for my $ 80 billion“He said CNBC in Davos.
Emergency powers and deregulation: Trump’s strategy to accelerate AI infrastructure
The initiative arrives in parallel with a decree which fundamentally reshapes the approach of the federal government in the development of AI. The order explicitly gives priority to speed rather than regulation, Trump declaring that he would use emergency powers to accelerate the construction of power plants for energy -consuming data centers.
“I will obtain the approval under emergency declaration. I can get the approvals myself without having to wait for years, “Trump told World Economic Forum. This approach marks a radical break with the The emphasis made by the Biden administration on IA security guidelines.
Environmental concerns occupy an important place. While the installation of Abilene plans to use renewable energies, the order of Trump authorizes the data centers to “use the fuel of their choice”, including coal for emergency feed. It has Alarmed climate activistswhich warn against the massive energy needs of IA infrastructure.
Companies’ programs conflict with White House policy while technology giants cross the Trump era
The initiative also comes up against potential contradictions with the other political priorities of Trump. Many participating companies maintain diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) which are conflict with Trump’s first decree ending such initiatives in federal agencies.
This initiative represents a striking paradigm change in the way America addresses technological development. While previous administrations carefully balanced innovation with surveillanceTrump’s approach essentially rejects the regulatory manual in favor of a rapid action and repair strategy later. This creates an unprecedented experience in the development of AI: the greatest players in Silicon Valley, released from regulatory constraints but linked by new social restrictions, keep the promise of American domination of AI?
Contradictions are difficult to ignore. Trump simultaneously declares the development of AI as a national emergency while forcing the very companies that build it by restrictions on their internal practices. Technology giants like Openai and Oracle must now put on an increasingly close needle: rush to build a massive AI infrastructure while potentially dismantling their Dei initiatives which have become deeply anchored in their corporate cultures and their hiring practices.
What is more worrying for AI researchers is the absence of security guidelines in this new framework. By favoring speed and scale rather than cautious development, the administration risks repeating the errors of previous technological revolutions, where the unforeseen consequences only appeared once the systems have become too rooted to be easily modified . The challenges of AI are undoubtedly much more important.
The American bet on AI: a race against China with uncertain chances
For the moment, the technological industry seems ready to overcome these contradictions in exchange for unprecedented support for the development of AI infrastructure. The success of this bet could determine not only the future of American AI, but also the form of the world technological landscape for the decades to come.
The stakes could not be higher. While China continues its own aggressive AI development, the Stargate project represents the greatest American bet to date to maintain its technological advance. The question remains: will this lunar approach create “the golden age” promised by Trump, or will regulatory declines and internal conflicts compromise its ambitious objectives?
