President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order on December 11, 2025, aiming to establish a single national AI standard across the United States. This order seeks to override state-level AI laws and may tie federal funding to compliance, intending to streamline AI development and maintain US leadership in the field. However, this move faces significant opposition, with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers asking President Trump to halt the order, arguing it would compromise state-level protections and make Wisconsin families less safe. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul supports Evers, emphasizing states' rights to create their own laws. The executive order has also caused division within Trump's own party, as some conservatives, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, advocate for states' rights in crafting AI regulations. DeSantis plans to create state AI rules, focusing on protections against deepfakes and unauthorized use of images. Meanwhile, the US is threatening EU service providers like Spotify and DHL over existing EU tech regulations, claiming they are unfair to American companies. Europe, however, possesses potential leverage over the US AI economy, including control over ASML's microchip-etching machines and strict data privacy enforcement against US tech giants, which could impact the US AI investment 'bubble'. In other AI developments, former UK Chancellor George Osborne is joining openai to lead its "OpenAI for Countries" program, aiming to help governments globally enhance their AI capabilities and build systems based on democratic values. Senator Elizabeth Warren has questioned Nvidia Corp's sales of advanced H200 AI chips to China, suggesting political donations from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to Donald Trump may have influenced the administration's approval. Nvidia maintains it adheres to all export controls and that the US government approves its sales. Grindr CEO George Arison announced the dating app's transition to an "AI-first" business model, planning to use AI for match suggestions and to expand into a social and public health hub. Senator Bernie Sanders is calling for a pause on new AI data center construction, citing concerns about rapid AI growth's impact on working families, job losses, and children, while other senators investigate data centers' energy use and rising electricity bills. Merriam-Webster named "slop" as its Word of the Year for 2025, defining it as low-quality, often AI-generated digital content, reflecting growing public frustration with unoriginal online material. Psychologists use AI for research but worry about data privacy and biases, and many executives are delaying AI spending due to a lack of immediate profits.
Key Takeaways
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order on December 11, 2025, to establish a national AI standard, aiming to override state AI laws and potentially link federal funding to compliance.
- Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers asked President Trump to stop his AI executive order, arguing it would reduce state-level protections and make families less safe.
- Trump's AI order has divided his own party, with some conservatives, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, supporting states' rights to create their own AI regulations.
- The US is threatening EU service providers over tech regulations, while Europe holds potential leverage over the US AI economy through ASML's microchip-etching machines and data privacy enforcement.
- George Osborne is leading openai's "OpenAI for Countries" program to help governments worldwide improve their AI capabilities and build AI systems on democratic values.
- Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned Nvidia Corp's sales of H200 AI chips to China, alleging political donations from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to Donald Trump influenced the administration's approval.
- Grindr CEO George Arison plans to transform the dating app into an "AI-first" business and expand it into a social and public health hub.
- Senator Bernie Sanders advocates for a pause on new AI data center construction due to concerns about AI's impact on working families, job losses, and children.
- Merriam-Webster selected "slop" as its Word of the Year for 2025, defining it as low-quality, often AI-generated digital content, reflecting public frustration.
- Psychologists use AI for research but express concerns about data privacy and biases, while many executives are delaying AI spending due to a lack of immediate profits.
Wisconsin Governor Evers fights Trump AI order
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers asked President Donald Trump to stop his executive order on AI from December 11. Trump's order aims to create one national AI standard and could stop states from making their own AI laws. Evers believes this order would make Wisconsin families less safe by removing state-level AI protections. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul supports Evers, saying states have the right to create their own laws. Sandra Bradley from the University of Wisconsin-Madison also warned that federal-only rules could give too much power to a few.
Trump order aims for national AI rules
On December 11, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order called "Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence." This order aims to create one national set of rules for AI across the United States. It plans to challenge state AI laws that conflict with federal policy and might link federal funding to states following these new rules. The goal is to make AI development easier and keep the US a leader in AI technology. Experts Joe Lazzarotti and Eric Felsberg advise employers to keep following current state and local AI laws until the federal plan is fully in place.
Trump AI order divides his own party
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on December 11 to stop states from making their own AI laws. He believes too many different state rules will harm AI development. The order creates an AI Litigation Task Force to sue states and may cut federal funding for those that do not comply. However, this move has caused disagreement within his own party, as some conservatives, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, support states' rights to create their own laws. Wesley Hodges from the Heritage Foundation also questioned the constitutionality of such a broad federal ban without a clear replacement standard.
US threatens EU firms over tech rules
The United States is threatening to restrict several European Union service providers, including Spotify and DHL, due to ongoing EU tech regulations. The US Trade Representative claims the EU's actions are unfair and discriminatory against American companies. The EU Commission, however, states its rules apply equally to all businesses to ensure a fair market. An expert suggests the EU could use the idea of a possible "AI bubble" bursting in the US as a way to push back against Trump's demands for less regulation. The US previously released a national security report in November that urged Europe to stop focusing on regulation.
Europe holds keys to Trump AI economy
Europe may have a "secret weapon" to challenge Donald Trump's reliance on the US AI economy. According to Johnny Ryan, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has two main ways to act. First, Europe could control the export of essential microchip-etching machines from the Dutch company ASML, which are vital for AI chip production. Second, the EU could strictly enforce its data privacy rules against large US tech companies. These actions could force American tech firms to change their systems and potentially limit their access to the European market, which might cause the US AI investment "bubble" to burst.
George Osborne to lead OpenAI government program
Former UK Chancellor George Osborne is joining OpenAI to lead its "OpenAI for Countries" program. This new role, based in London, will involve helping governments around the world improve their AI capabilities. Osborne will work to expand partnerships, build AI literacy, and use AI to make public services better. OpenAI's chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, stated that the program aims to ensure global AI systems are built on democratic values. Osborne decided to join after talking with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and COO Brad Lightcap, believing OpenAI is the most exciting company right now.
Senator Warren questions Nvidia AI chip sales to China
Senator Elizabeth Warren accused the Trump administration of allowing Nvidia Corp to sell advanced H200 AI chips to China because of political donations. She highlighted a 2019 fundraising dinner and a ballroom event hosted by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for Donald Trump. Warren believes these events may have influenced the administration's decision. Nvidia, however, stated that it follows all export control rules and that the US government approves its sales to China. The company insists its business practices are ethical and open.
Grindr CEO plans AI-first app and health hub
Grindr CEO George Arison announced that the dating app will become an "AI-first" business. He hopes AI can help gay people with dating challenges, especially in less populated areas, by suggesting matches and explaining why connections make sense. Grindr recently launched an AI feature for match suggestions. Arison also plans to expand Grindr into a social and public health hub, offering STI and HIV prevention and treatment services through its Woodwork site. He made it clear that Grindr will not get involved in politics.
Senator Sanders wants pause on AI data centers
Senator Bernie Sanders is asking for a stop to new AI data center construction. He believes this pause will give society time to understand and discuss the rapid growth of AI technology. Sanders is worried that billionaires are driving AI development without considering its impact on working families and potential job losses. He also raised concerns about AI's effects on children. Separately, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Van Hollen, and Richard Blumenthal are investigating if the high energy use of data centers is causing electricity bills to rise for consumers.
Merriam-Webster names AI-generated content "slop"
Merriam-Webster has chosen "slop" as its Word of the Year for 2025. The dictionary defines "slop" as low-quality digital content often created in large amounts by artificial intelligence. This word, which once meant soft mud or food waste, now describes the flood of AI-generated junk filling social media feeds. Merriam-Webster president Greg Barlow noted that people are searching for this term, showing a growing awareness and defiance against AI replacing human creativity. The choice reflects public frustration with the overwhelming amount of unoriginal content online.
AI brings mixed results and new regulations
A new report shows that psychologists use AI for tasks like research but worry about data privacy and biases. Many executives are not seeing big profits from AI yet, and some plan to delay their AI spending until 2026. Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to create state AI rules, even though President Donald Trump wants a national standard. DeSantis's plan includes protecting people from deepfakes and stopping AI from using someone's image without permission. The Washington Post also showed how AI can change images, like giving Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson new hairstyles.
Sources
- Evers urges Trump to 'abandon' AI executive order
- We get AI for work™: New Efforts to Ensure a National AI Policy
- How Trump’s Bid to Crush State AI Laws Splits His Own Party
- Bursting AI bubble may be EU’s “secret weapon” in clash with Trump, expert says
- This is Europe's secret weapon against Trump: it could burst his AI bubble
- Former chancellor George Osborne joins OpenAI
- Elizabeth Warren Alleges Jensen Huang's Trump Dinner And Ballroom Cash Bought The Nvidia CEO A Golden Ticket — AI Chip Sales To China (UPDATED)
- Grindr CEO Says App Will Be “AI-First” and “Not in the Business of Politics”
- Sanders pushes for moratorium on AI data center construction
- Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2025 Is 'Slop,' the A.I.-Generated Junk That Fills Our Social Media Feeds
- Bangs for The Rock but No Bang for the Buck: The Latest in AI
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