Following the release of the White House's AI Action Plan, Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), shared his thoughts on the initiative. Timmons highlighted that the plan aligns with manufacturers' ongoing efforts in artificial intelligence (AI) innovation.
"Reflecting President Trump's vision for the United States to lead on artificial intelligence, the White House’s AI Action Plan underscores what manufacturers across the country already know: AI is no longer a future ambition—it is already central to modern manufacturing," said Timmons. He emphasized that manufacturers have been utilizing AI technologies such as machine vision, digital twins, and robotics to enhance safety, strengthen supply chains, and drive growth.
Timmons noted that manufacturers have been proactive in shaping AI policy to foster innovation while ensuring necessary safeguards. "The White House’s plan reflects many of the recommendations we’ve put forward—from permitting reform for all energy sources so we can unleash American energy dominance, to a smarter, more targeted regulatory approach," he said.
With nearly 400,000 open jobs in manufacturing, Timmons stressed the importance of workforce development. "We need to invest in the workforce of tomorrow—training existing workers to use AI technologies and attracting new high-skilled talent into the sector," he added.
Timmons also called for a supportive policy environment for AI integration. "We’ve been calling for a pro-AI policy environment—one that supports innovation and responsible integration of AI into real-world operations," he explained. He advocated against hasty regulations and supported tailored requirements specific to AI use cases.
Manufacturers have been leading in developing advanced AI systems that transform operations. In March, NAM submitted comments for the White House's AI Action Plan development. By May, NAM had proposed policies to boost AI adoption in manufacturing and released reports indicating significant current and future reliance on AI by manufacturers.
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