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AI Big Tech Faces Political Vetting Under Trump’s Executive Order

By  |  July 29, 2025

Tech firms aiming to secure federal contracts for their artificial intelligence (AI) systems will now have to prove their tools align with new ideological standards, as former President Donald Trump pushes forward a controversial effort to prevent what he terms “woke AI” from infiltrating government operations.

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    According to AP News, one of three AI-related executive orders signed by Trump this week seeks to prohibit so-called “woke” behavior in AI technologies used by federal agencies. This move represents the first time the federal government has explicitly sought to regulate the political or cultural leanings of artificial intelligence systems.

    The new directive is part of Trump’s broader agenda to position the United States ahead of China in the race for global AI dominance. While other parts of the plan promise to reduce red tape and bolster American innovation, this specific executive order adds an ideological filter to the technological vetting process, injecting cultural tensions into what had primarily been a technical and security-focused policy area.

    Per AP News, major developers of AI-powered language models, such as Google (with Gemini) and Microsoft (with Copilot), have remained publicly silent on the executive order. Their hesitance highlights the delicate position they now face: balancing support for expanded government use of AI while steering clear of intensifying political skirmishes.

    Read more: Securing U.S. AI Leadership: U.S. Export Controls and the Trade in Advanced Chip

    Industry analysts suggest that the order’s real-world impact may hinge on how it’s implemented, particularly as it enters a review phase before becoming formal policy in government procurement. Nevertheless, civil rights advocates are raising early concerns about the precedent it sets.

    “It will have massive influence in the industry right now,” warned Alejandra Montoya-Boyer, senior director at The Leadership Conference’s Center for Civil Rights and Technology, according to AP News. She emphasized that companies are already feeling pressure to conform to other directives coming from the Trump camp.

    While the tech sector has largely welcomed Trump’s vision to cut regulatory burdens and promote American-led AI innovation, the ideological litmus test included in this order forces them into an uncomfortable intersection of policy, commerce, and culture wars.

    Source: AP News