Behind the Trump administration's pro-AI meme campaign
The administration is casting effective altruists — who focus on reducing harm from the tech and heavily weigh advancement versus risk — as the enemy.
The White House is launching a pro-AI meme campaign on social media platforms, with the intention of casting "effective altruists" as adversaries. The campaign, which is currently active on X posts from the Pentagon and posted by the Federal Communications Commission, contrasts the term "Americanism" with "Effective Altruism." The Centre for Effective Altruism, a participant in the campaign, has acknowledged the mention but also conveyed that it gains significant publicity for the movement.
Not every AI safety expert or advocate identifies as an effective altruist, and various groups operate with distinct objectives, funding, and membership. While the campaign's impact on the general public is uncertain, experts caution that the term may not serve as an effective deterrent in the long run, especially considering Donald Trump's growing isolation on the issue of AI regulation.
Experts emphasize that the coalition of individuals concerned about AI risks is vast and diverse, encompassing individuals such as Senator Bernie Sanders and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
