On January 14, 2025, President Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at advancing the United States’ leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. This directive authorizes the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to lease federal land to private companies for the construction of AI data centers and clean energy facilities. The initiative seeks to enhance economic competitiveness, national security, AI safety, and the development of clean energy.
The executive order stipulates that these AI data centers must utilize a significant proportion of U.S.-manufactured semiconductors, aligning with the administration’s broader strategy to bolster domestic chip production. Additionally, the government will oversee private sector developers to assess the national security implications of AI models created at these facilities.
This action is part of a series of measures by the Biden administration to regulate and promote AI development responsibly. In October 2023, President Biden issued an executive order on the safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of AI, emphasizing the need for comprehensive governance in this rapidly evolving field.
As the administration transitions, it remains to be seen how incoming leadership will approach these initiatives. The continuation or modification of such policies could significantly impact the trajectory of AI infrastructure development and regulation in the United States.