Michael Kratsios: Inside the White House's AI Strategy

Video summary

Michael Kratsios backs open-source AI, one national framework, and $200 billion in government R&D

At Y Combinator Startup School, White House OSTP Director Michael Kratsios explained how the Trump administration approaches AI policy. He reaffirmed support for both open-source and closed AI ecosystems, warned against rigid rules modeled on the EU AI Act, and advocated one national standard instead of a state-by-state regulatory patchwork that favors Google and other incumbents. Kratsios said today’s key risks include cyber capabilities, while biological risks may be overstated, and urged stronger testing infrastructure. He described a new science strategy built around AI-powered discovery, autonomous cloud laboratories, rapid grants, and prizes leveraging private capital. With the federal government funding nearly $200 billion in annual R&D, he also highlighted quantum computing as the next major priority, including a Department of Energy goal for a scientifically relevant quantum computer by 2028. He encouraged founders to engage policymakers—and consider public service.

Chapters

1. 0:00Michael Kratsios on AI Policy and Public Service: Leading America’s AI Strategy
2. 2:38From Tech to the White House: Peter Thiel, Lyft, and SpaceX
3. 4:39How Technology Policy Actually Gets Made: Federated Agency Decisions
4. 5:51The White House on Open Source AI: July AI Action Plan Commitment
5. 8:28How Washington Sees AI Differently: Jobs, Data Centers, and Growth
6. 9:53Regulating a Technology That Changes Every Six Months: EU AI Act Limits
7. 11:37Which AI Risks Are Overblown?: Cybersecurity and Biological Threats
8. 13:03Giving Little Tech a Seat at the Table: National AI Rules
9. 18:01Born Free vs. Born in Captivity Technologies: FAA Drone and Boom Examples
10. 20:46What Working in the White House Is Actually Like: Four Policy Councils and Escalation
11. 25:56A New Golden Age of American Science: AI-Driven Discovery and Autonomous Cloud Labs
12. 31:32Quantum, Congress, IP, and What Comes Next: 2028 Quantum Computer and AI Copyright Rules
13. 37:54Why Technologists Should Consider Public Service: Building Conditions for Startups to Thrive