Joe Biden's Big AI Plan Sounds Scary--but Lacks Bite

The costumed children celebrating Halloween with President Biden weren't there for the unveiling of a sweeping new executive order on artificial intelligence. Yet as the US government digests its lengthy, new to-do list and Vice President Kamala Harris heads to a UK summit on AI to sell the president's vision, leaders in Congress and nations around the world may be asking themselves, trick or treat? While this White House is bullish on the power of the president's pen, executive orders have limited power domestically--and none overseas. Behind the White House's rosy PR push about setting a new course for AI lurk the scary but very real monsters of congressional dysfunction and international rivals. Without overcoming both, Biden's AI vision could struggle to take root as his administration hopes it will.