Pentagon CTO doesn’t want US to do with AI firms what it did Intel & others
Pentagon CTO Emil Michael has expressed opposition to the U.S. government taking equity stakes in artificial intelligence companies, citing concerns over nationalization. He also pushed back against calls for heavy pre-emptive regulation, favoring a focus on product safety and accountability.
Why it matters
The stance highlights a growing tension between national security interests and the desire to maintain a free-market approach to the rapidly evolving AI sector.
The Pentagon's chief technology officer (CTO) has said that he does not want the Trump administration to acquire equity or seek partial state ownership in artificial intelligence (AI) companies, even as the government has already bought into firms like Intel and Nippon Steel-owned US Steel. Speaking to CNBC, Emil Michael was asked whether Washington might eventually take partial ownership stakes in AI companies — a possibility that has gained traction as worries mount over how quickly the technology is advancing. His response was blunt: “I hope not.”“We don’t want [the] government to get in the middle.
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