In a theatrical display of self-regulation, the tech industry's giants, under the auspices of former President Trump, have once again showcased their knack for staging interventions that barely scratch the surface of ethical governance. This week's gathering of AI magnates was a dual celebration of trivial rebranding and vague commitments, leaving much to be desired in terms of genuine accountability.

The so-called celebration kicked off with Trump’s whimsical decision to rename artificial intelligence to “superintelligence” through an executive order. This rebranding was followed by a nebulous pledge from tech leaders to “try and maybe do better” at developing AI responsibly. This pledge materialized into a 308-word “AI accord,” riddled with basic spelling errors and filled with generic recommendations that echo existing inadequate practices.

One such recommendation from the accord humorously states the need to “empower an internal team” to ensure that everything is working as it should—a notion so basic it’s astounding it was highlighted as a solution. Another urges companies to implement “robust internal controls”—a suggestion that seems redundant in the wake of several high-profile AI mishaps which were not the result of advanced AI capabilities, but rather basic corporate oversight failures.

The irony of the accord’s lackadaisical nature is that it comes from a cohort of companies poised for multi-trillion dollar public offerings, driven by questionable financial practices and a relentless pursuit of profit. These are the same companies that benefit from Trump’s systematic dismantling of regulatory frameworks, ensuring that no real repercussions or stringent oversight disrupt their operations.

Moreover, the accord’s statement that “it may make sense to codify these steps into laws or regulations” in the future does nothing but underline the current administration’s aversion to effective regulation. This comes in a political climate where Congress is viewed as too corrupt to function effectively, and consumer protections are being eroded by the day.

The mainstream media’s coverage of this event has been strikingly superficial, with major outlets failing to challenge the accord’s substance or question the broader implications of Trump’s policies on federal oversight. Such reporting neglects to inform the public of the systemic gutting of safeguards that could hold these tech behemoths accountable.

In essence, the event was less about setting a course for ethical AI development and more about allowing an unchecked display of corporate theater, masquerading as governance. As tech leaders continue to "pinky swear" on improving their colossal platforms, the real issues—privacy, security, and ethical development of AI—remain inadequately addressed, hidden behind the curtain of ostensible self-regulation.