[AI PICK] What’s Behind the Trump Administration’s 'AI Action Plan'?

[CEONEWS = Reporter Youngsun Jeon] The Trump administration has designated July 23 as ‘AI Action Day’ and is launching a full-scale initiative to gain the upper hand in the artificial intelligence (AI) power competition with China. According to major foreign media outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters, the soon-to-be-announced ‘AI Action Plan’ includes significant deregulation regarding energy, land, and permits — all essential to the construction of AI data centers.

The U.S. government plans to rapidly expand its power infrastructure and utilize land owned by the Department of Defense and the Department of the Interior for building AI data centers. It also intends to streamline complicated environmental and water-related permitting processes on a nationwide scale to drastically accelerate data center development. These actions reflect a strong will for the U.S. to secure leadership in the intensifying AI competition with China.

As the AI technology race has already evolved into a national strategic matter, China is also increasing its state-led investment in data center construction and AI technology. Against this backdrop, the U.S. aims to widen the technological gap with China through this executive order. Leading American tech companies such as Google, OpenAI, and Oracle are already participating actively through the related ‘Stargate’ project.

In contrast, South Korea still appears to be at the starting line in the AI infrastructure race. Private companies like Naver, SK, and LG CNS are investing independently in building data centers, but unlike the U.S. and China, large-scale state support and regulatory streamlining have yet to be implemented.

Experts warn, “Even if Korea has the technology and talent for AI, its competitiveness can’t be fully realized without infrastructure,” adding, “The government needs to establish a one-stop system that quickly resolves land acquisition, power supply, and permitting procedures.”

There is growing concern that unless the Korean government and companies respond quickly, they could fall significantly behind in the global AI power race. The U.S.’s announcement of the ‘AI Action Plan’ is likely to serve as a reminder for Korea of the critical importance of AI infrastructure.