Incoming US President Donald Trump has vowed to repeal Joe Biden’s executive order on artificial intelligence (AI), designed to balance innovation with safeguards for civil rights, privacy and ethical AI use. Trump’s promise to revoke it signals a shift towards deregulation even as it prioritises national security and economic competition.
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US policies to solidify its AI dominance will inevitably ripple across the Global South, which has historically struggled to access the benefits of advanced technologies. Understanding Trump’s new tech approach is critical, as the consequences could shape development trajectories for Global South nations for decades.
AI is projected to add US$15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with North America, China and Europe capturing about 84 per cent of this growth – leaving the Global South to share 16 per cent, despite being home to most of the world’s population. This stark disparity underscores the risks of leaving developing nations behind as AI becomes central to progress.
For example, while countries such as the United States and China have integrated AI into sectors from finance and healthcare to defence, many Global South nations lack the infrastructure to do the same. For instance, the lack of top supercomputers in sub-Saharan Africa makes it nearly impossible to compete in the AI race.
In addition, removing US safeguards that prioritise ethical AI development could spark a race among nations to lower standards to remain competitive. This could undermine multilateral efforts such as the UN General Assembly resolution adopted last March to encourage safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems.
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The resolution urged members states “to refrain from or cease the use of artificial intelligence systems that are impossible to operate in compliance with international human rights law or that pose undue risks to the enjoyment of human rights”. Deregulation in the US risks sidelining these commitments, pushing other nations to prioritise speed over safety.