Trump just picked his AI advisors — Musk and Altman didn't make the cut

President Trump just appointed 13 tech leaders to his President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) — the panel that will shape U.S. AI policy for years to come. The list reads like a who's who of Silicon Valley: Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang, Sergey Brin, Larry Ellison, Lisa Su, Marc Andreessen, and Michael Dell all made the cut.

But two names are conspicuously absent: Elon Musk and Sam Altman — arguably the two most prominent figures in AI today.

13 seats, zero safety advocates

The full list of appointees tells a clear story about where AI policy is heading:

The council is co-chaired by David Sacks (White House AI and crypto czar) and Michael Kratsios (Trump's senior technology adviser). It could expand to 24 members.

Only one academic researcher made the list. No AI safety organizations. No consumer advocacy groups. The composition heavily favors companies that build and sell AI, not those studying its risks.

The $3 million question

Several appointees have financial ties to the administration. Meta, Google, and Nvidia each donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration committee. Multiple appointees contributed to the renovation of the White House ballroom. Oracle backed the TikTok U.S. takeover that Trump approved.

These aren't disqualifying connections — political donations are standard practice in Washington. But they raise questions about whether a panel of industry insiders will recommend policies that prioritize public interest over their own business models.

Why no Musk? Why no Altman?

The exclusions are telling. Elon Musk previously led the administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) but his relationship with Trump has been turbulent. His omission suggests political recalibration within the administration.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI — the company behind ChatGPT — was also left out, along with any Microsoft executives. Given that OpenAI and Microsoft together represent the most visible AI partnership in the world, their absence is striking.

No official reason was given for either exclusion.

What this panel actually decides

PCAST (originally established in 2001 by George W. Bush) advises the President on science and technology policy. In Trump's framing, the council will focus on "ensuring all Americans thrive in the Golden Age of Innovation."

In practice, this panel will influence decisions on:

Trump has made AI leadership a central priority of his second term, framing it as a strategic competition with China. The panel's industry-heavy composition suggests the administration will continue favoring rapid deployment over cautious regulation.

The bigger picture

This appointment comes on the same day Sanders and AOC introduced legislation to ban all new data center construction until AI safeguards are in place. The contrast couldn't be sharper: one side of Washington wants to hit the brakes, the other is handing the steering wheel to the companies building the cars.

For everyday users, the panel's recommendations will eventually shape what AI tools you can access, how much they cost, and what protections exist when things go wrong. The decisions being made now will echo for years.

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