Melania Trump resurfaces to emphasize ethically sound AI: 'The AI technology has arrived'
Melania Trump, the First Lady, made a rare public appearance on Thursday at the East Room of the White House, marking her eighth official appearance during President Donald Trump's second term. The occasion was the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education event, where she called on private and public sector leaders to prepare children for the growth of artificial intelligence.
During her speech, Melania Trump emphasized the need for responsible AI management under private and public sector oversight. She was supported by the White House Task Force, which included executives from major companies such as Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon, Google, IBM, and OpenAI.
The First Lady's presence at the meeting was a renewed effort towards her first-term "Be Best" platform, which includes a focus on online safety for children. She urged leaders to prioritize infrastructure and energy, national security, and talent as the technology expands.
Thursday's event was not the first time Melania Trump has shown interest in artificial intelligence. Previously, she promoted a presidential AI competition for school-age children. In addition, she has led an effort towards passing the "Take It Down Act," legislation aimed at protecting Americans from deepfake and revenge pornography.
In her speech, Melania Trump stated, "We are living in a moment of wonder," and emphasized the need to prepare children for the future. She has yet to substantively lay out new policy goals for "Be Best," but on Thursday she signaled her interest in expanding it to include responsible stewardship of artificial intelligence.
This was Melania Trump's first public appearance since July 13. Since the president returned to office, she has been seen in public for 20 days, which is less than half of the 46 days she was at this point in his first term. Despite her limited public appearances, Melania Trump has been in frequent communication with her husband, often exchanging texts or calls throughout the day.
On Thursday, Melania Trump addressed emerging technology alongside a group of Cabinet members and CEOs. The event marked a significant step forward in the First Lady's efforts to promote responsible AI management and online safety for children.
