MISSION
The world is on the cusp of a new industrial revolution. The high-stakes race to lead in AI innovation will determine who leads the world in the next generation of geopolitical competition. The arsenal needed to control this new battlefield will be the speed of our industrial base, the power of our data centers, and the quality of our microchips – and now is the time to start building it. The United States must lead the way in promoting AI standards that champion American values and combat the encroaching threat of digital authoritarianism that our adversaries seek to export around the world.
Focus Areas / Policy Pillars
Advance American AI Innovation - AI has the potential to lead to revolutionary developments in manufacturing, education, healthcare and many other industries. To achieve these innovations, we must empower American developers by freeing them from a burdensome regulatory regime and coordinating with private sector partners to promote American AI products abroad.
Safeguard the Homeland - With the increasing digitalization of critical U.S. infrastructure comes new vulnerabilities. We must be proactive in securing our digital infrastructure from adversarial and criminal threats.
Ensure Transparency to Promote American Values - The thinking patterns of AI creators will be reflected in their models and influence how those models interpret information. We must ensure that AI models promote American values and not increase the threat of digital totalitarianism that is embedded in adversarial models.
Uphold Human Dignity to Defend the American Way of Life - AI can be harnessed for both great human flourishing, but also for malicious intent. We must ensure that AI deployment serves to improve the quality of life for American workers, children, and families. To do this, we will investigate harmful algorithmic prompts and chatbots used to engage in scams, and guarantee AI deployment does not strip American workers of the dignity that comes from work.
Streamline Government Efficiency & AI Readiness - The adoption of AI technology will lead to more efficient means of production and service delivery in the private sector. By utilizing similar optimization strategies, AI enables the cutting of the federal bureaucracy and the streamlining of government functions.
Team
Latest
Issue Brief
|
April 16, 2026
China’s Campaign to Steal and Sabotage American AI
The United States holds a slight lead over China in artificial intelligence (AI) development. Chinese developers have avoided falling irrecoverably behind by implementing a campaign to steal, subvert, and sabotage American AI development.
News Release
|
April 7, 2026
AFPI Releases New Issue Brief on Strengthening AI Readiness Across Federal Government
The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has released a new issue brief “Building AI Readiness in the U.S. Government,” which outlines comprehensive strategies for policymakers to ensure the American government is prepared to lead in the age of artificial intelligence.
News Release
|
April 7, 2026
AFPI Releases New Report on AI Chatbot Regulation and the First Amendment
Expert Insights
|
April 7, 2026
AI Chatbot Regulation and the First Amendment
The America First position on AI is simple: ensure that America leads the world in developing and adopting AI for human flourishing. An essential part of that agenda is protecting children. This has led many state and federal legislators to decide on a wide array of solutions to address the concerns many of these commercial-grade apps raise, particularly the impact they have on children. From light-touch approaches, like age verification, design codes, and transparency requirements, to banning aspects of the technology, legislatures are introducing and enacting these measures.
Op-Ed
|
April 4, 2026
AI Water Use? That’s a Hoax.
The New York Times, Bloomberg, and Forbes want you to think AI data centers are draining America’s water supply. Liberal senators like Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ed Markey (D-Mass) have piled on, writing a letter to administration officials criticizing data centers in part for their “increasing burdens on water supplies.”