It looks like some big names from the tech world are heading to Washington for Donald Trump’s inauguration later this month. This marks a new chapter as the industry works to rebuild and strengthen its ties with the president-elect as he prepares for his return to the White House.
So, who’s attending? Well, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, will be there, according to a spokesperson. Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta Platforms Inc., is also planning to attend, as reported by someone familiar with the matter. Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, will take part in some of the surrounding events, and Uber is even hosting a special inauguration party with Elon Musk’s X social media platform and The Free Press media company.
Not to be left out, Coinbase’s CEO, Brian Armstrong, has also received invites to several events, including a presidential dinner.
Now, here’s where things get interesting. Trump’s second term brings a fresh wave of uncertainty to the fast-moving world of tech, especially AI. While in office, Trump clashed with Silicon Valley over issues like immigration and online content. He also took jabs at tech giants like Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. In recent weeks, both Meta and Amazon have pledged $1 million each to Trump’s inauguration fund. Zuckerberg and Bezos have even shared meals with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
But it’s not just about donations or dinners. Zuckerberg has been tweaking his social platforms to appeal more to Trump supporters, even relaxing some rules around content. Meanwhile, Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, personally donated $1 million to the inauguration fund, though he’s also been backing President Joe Biden for 2024.
Altman shared his thoughts with Bloomberg Businessweek, saying, “I think AGI will probably get developed during this president’s term, and getting that right seems really important.” He also mentioned that supporting the inauguration wasn’t a major decision for him, but he wishes the president success, as it’s a big moment for the country and the future of AI.
With Trump’s platform promising to roll back Biden’s executive orders on AI, there’s more to consider. Musk, gaining more influence in Washington, might push policies that could benefit his own companies, including his AI startup, xAI. Still, Altman doesn’t seem too worried about Musk using political power against rivals like OpenAI.
In addition to Altman, OpenAI President Greg Brockman and Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil will be there, and the company has also hired a lobbying firm tied to Trump world.
It’s clear that the tech world is bracing for a new era of cooperation and competition, and with leaders like Altman and Musk in the mix, we can expect more changes ahead!