President Trump signed an executive order that is aimed to guide the development and regulation of artificial intelligence in the U.S.

According to a White House release, the American AI Initiative will promote sustained investment in AI R&D; enhance access to high-quality and fully traceable Federal data, models, and computing resources to increase the value of such resources for AI R&D; reduce barriers to the use of AI technologies to promote their application; ensure that technical standards minimize vulnerability to attacks from malicious actors; train the next generation of American AI researchers and users through apprenticeships; skills programs; and education in STEM; and develop and implement an action plan.

However, the order did not specify where the funds for A.I. research and development would come from. According to a news report, to date, 18 countries have launched national AI strategies, and half of these include new sources of funding. Figures range from roughly $20 million in Australia and Denmark to nearly $2 billion in South Korea, it said.

ITI, the global voice of the tech sector, applauded the executive order. “From helping farmers better plan their crop yields to improving the way doctors diagnose cancer to providing individuals with visualized directions on their smartphones, artificial intelligence is transforming our economy, society, and how we go about our daily lives,” said Andy Halataei, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at ITI. “The American Artificial Intelligence (AI) Initiative is a critical step to fully realizing the smart, responsible growth of artificial intelligence, and advancing U.S. leadership in the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies. We applaud the president’s call to prioritize federal research and development and investment in this revolutionary technology across the U.S. government, including democratizing access to federal AI data sets. At the same time, we commend the administration’s commitment to ensuring the deployment of this technology includes essential security and privacy protections and creates new opportunities for American workers to succeed in the 21st century. The tech industry looks forward to collaborating with the administration, Congress, academia, consumer advocates, and industry partners on this important endeavor.”

In 2017, ITI released the first-of-its-kind AI Policy Principles to help guide lawmakers globally on the growth and deployment of AI technology.