Hours after returning to the White House, President Donald Trump made a symbolic mark on the future of artificial intelligence by repealing former President Joe Biden’s guardrails for the fast-developing technology.

When Biden's AI Order was established, half a dozen US politicians applauded the measure alongside industry executives like Microsoft President Brad Smith, who called it a "critical step forward in the governance of AI technology" (In October, Microsoft founder Bill Gates quietly supported Kamala Harris for president with a $50 million donation).

Much of Biden's order set in motion a sprint across government agencies to study AI's impact on everything from cybersecurity risks to its effects on education, workplaces, and public benefits.