Meta’s AI chief says Trump and Musk are threats to America’s AI dominance

Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist, submitted a letter by a coalition of AI and tech groups to the Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, reiterating his concerns about the Trump administration’s budget-cutting strategies and how it can potentially harm the American AI industry. 

Yann LeCun has been vocal about his dislike for the US first buddy and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk. Last year, in a lengthy post on X, LeCun slammed Musk for his public positions on sensitive issues like politics, journalism, and the media. He also stated that Musk has no problem spreading “batshit-crazy conspiracy theories as long as they serve his interests.” 

My opinion of @elonmusk
I like his cars (I own a 2015 S, and 2023 S), his rockets, his solar energy systems, and his satellite communication system.
I also like his positions on open source and patents.

But I very much disagree with him on a number of issues.

I disagree with…

— Yann LeCun (@ylecun) June 2, 2024

LeCun has also been pretty critical of Trump, going as far as calling the president a pathological liar. 

Now that Musk and Trump have strengthened their relationship and are essentially running the country together, LeCun is back to openly criticizing their methods and the potential damage their strategies could cause now and in the future.

LeCun criticizes Trump’s policies on academia and AI research

LeCun has accused the Trump administration of initiating a “witch hunt in academia.” His remarks follow several warnings from leaders in the AI industry that President Donald Trump’s policies could weaken America’s standing in the AI sector. 

On Monday, a coalition of AI and tech groups sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, stating that the Trump administration’s decision to make cuts to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) budget could negatively impact the US in terms of AI leadership.

President Trump initially supported AI research at NIST during his first term, but his current administration is scaling back funding and public-private collaboration.

In the letter sent to Lutnick, the group outlined the importance of their work to the US government and stated that they are open to working with the administration to work out a strategy that benefits both parties. 

“NIST’s work in AI, begun under President Trump’s first term, has proven to be a critical enabler for the U.S. government and U.S. industry to maintain AI leadership globally. As the Administration considers changes to personnel and programs to better align agencies with priorities, we encourage a strategy that leverages NIST’s leadership and expertise on standards development, voluntary frameworks, public-private sector collaboration, and international harmonization,” the letter read. 

The group went on to acknowledge the administration’s dedication to managing federal funds effectively and how the agency contributes to the economic growth of the US. 

“We recognize the need to shift priorities toward a security-focused approach that maximizes economic potential and continues to foster innovation. In this context, we emphasize that NIST’s work represents a high value investment that directly contributes to U.S. economic growth, competitiveness, and technological leadership. We caution that downsizing NIST or eliminating these initiatives will have ramifications for the ability of the American AI industry to continue to lead globally.”

LeCun drew parallels between Trump’s decision to cut the NIST budget and the Cold War-era Red Scare. At that time, Qian Xuesen, a Chinese scientist was deported from the US in the 1950s and later worked to advance China’s nuclear missile program. 

Dan A. Kimball, the then-United States Undersecretary of the Navy, remarked that deporting Qian Xuesen was “the stupidest thing this country ever did.” In relation to this situation, LeCun is saying that Trump is making a stupid decision by stifling AI research. 

The effect of the Trump administration on research 

The Trump administration is blowing its way through federal agencies and employees, serially issuing executive orders to reduce funding and lay off employees. It announced drastic cuts to the National Institutes of Health, not acknowledging that the move would effectively and abruptly cut off billions in federal funding for biomedical research. 

These cuts in funding have sparked significant concern among the US-based scientific community. Elon Musk’s DOGE, created for the purpose of cost cutting, has also been deployed to federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and NASA.

Trump also signed an executive order against the DEIA mandate. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Talent Sourcing for America initiative was launched in September 2022 to position the federal government as a model of inclusion and equity. With Trump putting an end to it, many are concerned that it could threaten scientific research at universities.

“The US seems set on destroying its public research funding system. Many US-based scientists are looking for a Plan B,” LeCun wrote in a post on LinkedIn.

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