IBM CEO Arvind Krishna's endorsement of the White House's latest AI cybersecurity order comes as the Trump administration pursues a broader strategy centered on accelerating U.S. AI development, Axios reported Wednesday.

The White House plans aims to strengthen national security applications while maintaining a competitive edge against China.

"You want to have light regulation, and not creating a big bureaucracy that can slow things down," Krishna told the outlet.

He had previously said that government needs to find a "Goldilocks" zone to regulate AI without hampering innovation.

Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has emphasized reducing regulatory barriers to AI innovation.

In January 2025, he signed an executive order aimed at promoting American leadership in artificial intelligence, directing federal agencies to support AI development and infrastructure while avoiding what the administration views as overly restrictive regulation.

The administration later released an AI Action Plan focused on expanding domestic AI capabilities, increasing adoption across government and industry, streamlining infrastructure development and boosting U.S. competitiveness in the global AI race.

Officials have repeatedly framed AI as both an economic and national security priority.

A major pillar of the administration's AI strategy has been defense and cybersecurity.

The Pentagon has accelerated efforts to integrate AI into military planning, intelligence analysis, logistics, cyber defense and battlefield decision-making.

Defense leaders argue AI can improve operational speed and effectiveness, while maintaining human oversight of critical military functions.

The latest executive order reflects that emphasis by directing national security agencies to strengthen cyber defenses and improve their ability to assess risks from advanced AI systems.

Last summer, first lady Melania Trump announced the launch of the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge, a new initiative encouraging K–12 students and educators nationwide to engage with AI technology.

She described the challenge as an important first step in helping young Americans develop a foundational understanding of AI and prepare for its growing role in the economy.

Together, the administration's policies reflect a two-pronged approach to artificial intelligence: encouraging rapid innovation and deployment to strengthen economic growth and national security, while pursuing targeted safeguards aimed at combating cyber threats, online exploitation and the misuse of AI-generated content.