By: Saira Jesani, Executive Director
The AI Action Plan, released on July 23, 2025 by the Trump administration, signals a turning point in the federal government’s approach to artificial intelligence governance. The clear goal is the establishment of American AI dominance on the global stage.
In essence, we see a recalibration of the government’s role—shifting from top-down mandates to an emphasis on voluntary standards, public-private collaboration, and national competitiveness.
One of the most significant takeaways for business leaders—especially those that are part of D&TA—is that this approach places a greater responsibility for sound and safe AI deployment on industry actors, particularly those who bring AI into real-world applications.
For business leaders navigating this evolving terrain, D&TA penned a brief to highlight:
Key provisions of the AI Action Plan—and where they diverge from the prior administration’s posture.
Implications for deployers—who are primarily the users of AI and are integrating AI into real-world applications. For each of the key provisions, we outline the new opportunities and risks for business leaders.
Strategic opportunities for deployers—to help influence the rules of the road and create a more viable and trusted ecosystem. The AI Action Plan elevates voluntary standards as the primary mechanism of AI oversight. Deployers can and should be the proving ground for this type of federal guidance, especially through real-world implementation feedback.
"The AI Action Plan shifts AI governance from federal mandates to market-led accountability, placing great responsibility on companies deploying AI systems” said Jon Iwata, Executive Chairman of the Data & Trust Alliance. “The real work ahead isn't choosing between innovation and responsibility—it's proving they're inseparable. As deployers become the de facto standard-setters, our Alliance members have the opportunity to demonstrate that the most competitive AI strategies are also the most trustworthy ones."
The AI Action Plan transfers responsibility—but it also transfers opportunity. Deployers should hold the pen in defining the standards, safeguards, and trust infrastructure for AI. By acting in this moment, we hope to turn regulatory ambiguity into strategic clarity, and reputational risk into reputational capital.
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