Governments are typically late adopters of new technologies. But in an era where each new generation of AI can create a significant economic and national security advantage, being slow is no longer an option. A new U.S. executive order from the Trump administration aims to address this, strengthening defenses against AI-driven cyber threats and creating a voluntary mechanism to review frontier models before their public release.
For me, the most interesting part isn't the cyber aspect, but the provision that grants the U.S. government early access to these advanced models. This move aligns with the "Great Divergence" concept I've written about previously, where the speed of adoption becomes a decisive strategic advantage. As Anthropic recently shared, its new models possess cyber capabilities beyond what is currently on the market. When every model generation brings new power, early access becomes a significant strategic asset.
However, based on my experience, early access is a necessary but not sufficient condition for success. The advantage isn't created by merely possessing the model; it's forged by an organization's ability to learn fast, implement quickly, and translate new capabilities into real-world value.
This new order suggests the U.S. understands the first part of the equation. The true value, however, will come from creating the mechanisms that turn this privileged access into a tangible edge. Figuring out how to build those mechanisms is a question more and more governments, including Israel, will be asking themselves. It is one of the most critical challenges for anyone thinking about AI strategy at a national level today.