Trump calls for investment in artificial intelligence

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to prioritize research and development in artificial intelligence.

The American AI Initiative follows big investment pledges from China and other countries intended to advance and apply AI technology in fields ranging from warfighting to health care.

The White House plan doesn’t include any funding details. The administration says it’s up to Congress to appropriate money. That lack of specifics is troubling to AI experts, such as Erik Brynjolfsson, a management professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“The good news is America’s research infrastructure in artificial intelligence is leading the world,” Brynjolfsson said. “But other countries are … rapidly closing the gap, especially China.”