Biden administration signs executive orders on AI and cybersecurity

In the final days of the Biden Administration, two significant executive orders were signed that could shape the future of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) in the United States. The first, issued on January 14, 2025, is known as the “Executive Order on Advancing United States Leadership in Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure,” while the second, issued just two days later on January 16, 2025, is titled “Executive Order on Strengthening and Promoting Innovation in the Nation’s Cybersecurity.” Both orders have thus far escaped the comprehensive revocation of over 78 executive orders initiated by President Trump on the first day of his presidency.

The AI Infrastructure Order represents a shift in focus compared to its predecessor, the “2023 AI Order,” which aimed primarily at the cautious development and application of AI technologies. In a statement accompanying the AI Infrastructure Order, President Biden articulated that the new measure was designed to facilitate a national infrastructure that supports the long-term growth of the AI sector, stating that it aims to “protect national security, enhance competitiveness, power AI with clean energy, enhance AI safety, keep prices low for consumers, demonstrate responsible ways to scale new technologies, and promote a competitive AI ecosystem.”

Key initiatives laid out in the AI Infrastructure Order include leasing federal properties owned by the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Energy (DoE) for the establishment of large-scale AI data centres, promoting the deployment of new clean energy sources to support AI infrastructure, and prioritising the rapid permitting process for these infrastructures. Moreover, the order seeks to ensure the interconnection of AI systems to the electric grid and advocate for international partnerships in developing AI infrastructure.

The 2025 Cybersecurity Order builds upon efforts initiated during Biden’s 2021 “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity” order. It highlights the need for enhanced security measures in light of ongoing threats, particularly from the People’s Republic of China, which is described as a major threat to U.S. networks. Noteworthy provisions include the enhancement of the existing sanctions framework, which aims to target individuals and entities engaged in cyber-attacks, including those involved with ransomware.

This order also mandates enhanced cybersecurity measures for federal systems, the development of AI-based tools for cyber defence, and the establishment of a public/private partnership aimed at utilising AI to bolster the security of the nation’s energy infrastructure. Moreover, it includes directives for improved inter-agency collaboration on cyber-criminal activity through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Despite the ambitious frameworks outlined in both orders, their future under the forthcoming Trump administration remains uncertain. Whether these initiatives will be embraced, modified, or rescinded could significantly impact the trajectory of AI development and cybersecurity efforts in the United States.

The ongoing situation surrounding these executive orders is noteworthy, particularly given their implications for national security and economic competitiveness. As analysts and industry experts monitor the developments in this rapidly evolving domain, the possibility that the Trump administration may maintain the orders in some capacity could signal a continued prioritisation of AI infrastructure and cybersecurity on the federal agenda.

Source: Noah Wire Services