Trump AI President and Elon Musk: OpenAI CFO on America’s AI Leadership

In an interview at the Reuters NEXT with the Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni, the Chief Financial Officer of OpenAI, Sarah Friar said that new U.S. President Donald Trump could play a pivotal role in the development of AI. She also referred Trump as the “president of this AI generation” as he will be taking office when the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) will be at a critical stage.

Friar said on Tuesday, 10th December 2024, “He’s going to be right there at the beginning of it, maybe even as things like AGI, we get there,” highlighting Trump’s track record of emphasizing national interests during his presidency.

Open AI vs Musk

The discussion also shifted to Elon Musk, the tech tycoon whose AI initiatives have placed him as a global influencer in the industry. The Open AI CFO said, “We trust him…as a competitor, (he) will put first the national interest and compete appropriately,” as recently Musk raised $6 billion for his latest artificial intelligence startup xAI.

“Musk is a visionary who understands the dual-edged nature of AI,” the CFO remarked. “He not only advocates for groundbreaking developments but also stresses the importance of ethical guardrails. His leadership in AI aligns with the nation’s broader interests.”

Musk has played a multiple role in AI development from being a cofounder of OpenAI to his current focus on integrating AI at X. In one of his recent moves, Musk sued Open AI against its step to restructure itself as a for-profit organization. Talking about Open AI vs Musk the CFO voiced her trusts in Musk to prioritize innovation and responsibility.

Vision for America’s AI Future

Trump being presented as an AI president and Musk as a trusted leader in AI innovation, showcases how the country requires a unified leadership in AI development. Introducing AI has impacted the very fabric of the industries, national security, and the economy to necessitate policymaking cooperation and active work with technological leaders.

Trump might push for policies that ensure that America remains the world’s powerhouse in AI, putting America first. On the other hand, Musk’s vision of fostering innovation supplemented with moral conduct guarantees that the advancement taking place in Tesla as well as other corporations he invests in is more positive and sustainable.

Possessing such alignment between the governance and the technology it regulates, it might be possible to build a powerful combination that effectively meets the challenges of AI, when the benefits are given a priority. The partnership reflects a larger call to find balance, driving innovation with the protection of public interest and national interests.