In July 2025, the White House released Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan (July 2025), a national policy memorandum outlining the federal government’s strategy to advance U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence.
The Action Plan highlights AI’s transformative role across science, defense, education, and commerce — while positioning the United States as a global leader in AI innovation, infrastructure, and security.
To support clients and stakeholders in understanding the implications of this initiative,
Barnes & Thornburg’s Artificial Intelligence practice has prepared a legal and regulatory analysis of the Action Plan.
Co-chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s
Private Funds and Asset Management Group
Scott Beal
A year and a half away from the FTX collapse, we’ve seen significant recoveries in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The SEC’s approval of bitcoin ETFs is a big deal for the industry and may also increase the willingness of allocators to make investments in private crypto funds and other nonregulated products.
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There are numerous instances where incorporating AI could benefit fund managers, from market analysis to automating research processes to simply freeing up managers’ time. It follows that such technologies will have a positive overall impact on fund performance.
America’s AI Action Plan: What You Need to Know
About Barnes & Thornburg’s Artificial Intelligence Practice
Structured around three strategic pillars, the Plan outlines a broad federal commitment to:
1. Accelerate AI Innovation – Removing regulatory barriers, promoting open-source development, driving AI adoption across sectors, and ensuring systems reflect American values of free speech and objectivity.
2. Build American AI Infrastructure – Scaling energy capacity, expanding semiconductor manufacturing, and constructing secure data centers to support AI growth.
3. Lead in International AI Diplomacy and Security – Strengthening export controls, countering adversarial influence, and aligning technology protection measures with allies.
Privacy and Security Perspectives – Data governance, cyber-resilience and legal considerations for AI-related privacy frameworks
Intellectual Property Perspectives – IP protection for AI models, datasets and innovations; enforcement against malicious actors
Infrastructure, Education, and Robotics – Regulatory updates on data centers, chip manufacturing, energy requirements and AI workforce development
A Focus on Potential Liability – Synthetic media risks, biosecurity obligations, international AI compliance strategies and consideration of potential liability for AI labs/system users and developers
Legal, compliance, and risk professionals
Technology and AI policy leaders
Organizations subject to federal funding, procurement, or oversight
Cross-border operators navigating divergent international AI laws
Our analysis provides insight into several cross-cutting themes for businesses and legal stakeholders, with a focus on:
Who Should Read This
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Learn how evolving federal AI priorities may reshape your legal, compliance, and procurement frameworks.
Key Themes in This Report
The AI Action Plan
Nicholas Sarokhanian
Chair, Artificial Intelligence
Practice
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Kaitlyn Stone
Partner
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Brian McGinnis
Co-Chair, Data Security and
Privacy
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Lyric D. Menges
Associate
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William Carlucci
Associate
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B&T’s Artificial Intelligence group helps clients across industries — ranging from healthcare and insurance to international trade and corporate operations — effectively deploy and use AI while managing compliance, privacy, IP, and liability risks. Our multidisciplinary team delivers tailored counsel on AI development, procurement, governance frameworks, regulatory navigation, intellectual property, data security, and commercial transactions.
We are closely tracking developments in generative AI technologies, platform offerings, and the legal and ethical frameworks emerging around them. Our thought leaders, who are immersed in these issues and the underlying technology, can provide practical and legal advice. Barnes & Thornburg is ready to help you navigate the AI landscape, mitigate risks, and leverage AI effectively and compliantly. We can help you reach your objectives in a cost-effective and timely fashion with our multidisciplinary approach.
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