Tech Policy Roundup – February 2025

We hope to be announcing our first webinar of the year shortly. To receive webinar invites and our weekly tech policy Executive Briefing, sign up for Voices for Innovation today!

This year, we expect to see Congress and the Administration advance policies that will impact the technology sector—and users of technology. Emerging tech policies may have a range of goals, including supporting innovation, driving economic growth, and strengthening cybersecurity.

As a first foray into AI policymaking, President Trump rescinded a 2023 Biden Administration executive order on AI and subsequently issued his own AI executive order, which calls for the development of an AI action plan within 180 days. Coverage of these developments includes articles from the AP, Reuters, and Nextgov/FCW.

Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith kicked off the year by publishing a blog laying out a three-part vision for advancing America’s AI opportunity and leadership. This vision will require supportive public policies and “a partnership that unites leaders from government, the private sector, and the country’s educational and non-profit institutions.”

Key policies discussed in the blog include the need for federal investment in AI research; support for access to data, computing resources, and AI skilling; and policies that promote American AI exports. We encourage you to check out the entire blog, “The Golden Opportunity for American AI.”

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of Microsoft’s founding. As part of the celebration and to build on Washington State’s legacy of impact and innovation, Microsoft is inviting Washington-based nonprofits, startups, academic institutions, and other mission-driven organizations to apply for an AI for Good grant. The grant program provides opportunities to collaborate with the Microsoft AI for Good Lab and receive Azure credits. The program aims to drive innovative AI projects in sustainability, public health, and human rights. To learn more and link to the application, check out this blog.

The recent release of DeepSeek AI from China received wide attention from the media, the public, and many policymakers. President Trump weighed in, saying, “The release of DeepSeek AI from a Chinese company should be a wake-up call for our industries that we need to be laser focused on competing.” Many lawmakers also took note of the development, which could further spur Congress to advance legislation that supports U.S. AI innovation.

To support customers and further AI innovation, Microsoft made DeepSeek’s R1 AI model available on two of its key platforms, Azure AI Foundry and GitHub. This allows customers to integrate this AI model into their own applications. Asha Sharma, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of AI platform, noted that, “DeepSeek R1 has undergone rigorous red teaming and safety evaluations, including automated assessments of model behavior and extensive security reviews to mitigate potential risks.”

The first regulations of the European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) have gone into effect, as of February 1. In a new blog, Microsoft Chief Responsible AI Officer Natasha Crampton discusses steps Microsoft is taking to help customers innovate with AI while complying with the EU AI Act.

Critically, Crampton notes that AI innovation is happening on a global scale and it’s essential to develop “implementation practices that are efficient, effective, and interoperable internationally.” Microsoft “will continue to lean into regulatory processes in Europe and around the world.” This last point is a reminder that Congress and the Trump Administration are expected to engage in AI policymaking in the months ahead.