Elon Musk, AI and tech titans, venture capitalists invited to pre-inauguration breakfast at the start of the Trump administration.

This week in Washington, D.C., a select group of tech industry leaders and venture capitalists will meet with the incoming Trump administration to discuss new opportunities for global innovation in artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.

On Thursday, journalists-turned-investment bankers, CEOs of AI tech companies, their financial backers, and personnel from the incoming administration will gather for a dinner hosted by Outside the Box Ventures, a firm founded by Katherine Tarbox and Laurent Bili.

The list of attendees for Thursday's dinner includes Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Bobby Franklin, David Sacks, Sam Altman, Joe Lonsdale, and Colin Greenspon.

The upcoming event, which takes place prior to President-elect Trump's inauguration, is more than just a discussion. It is hoped that it will mark the beginning of a new era of public-private collaboration that will utilize technology to drive the country forward. A source close to the planning shared this information with Planet Chronicle Digital.

Entrepreneurs in America are eager to capitalize on the "golden opportunity" for technology and economic growth, as described by Microsoft's Brad Smith. They aim to replicate the successful collaboration between industry leaders and government resources, which was achieved through Operation Warp Speed, to drive advancements in AI.

France's interest in being a leader in AI is evident through Bili's participation, as the country is hosting a global action summit on the technology in Paris this February and views the U.S. as a valuable partner in this effort.

The source stated that they believe this is the most sought-after ticket for tech and venture capital leading up to the inauguration. However, the Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment.

The CEO of the National Venture Capital Association, Franklin, confirmed that he plans to attend. He stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that there is excitement in the venture capital industry about several of Trump's hires, including billionaire tech executive Sacks and Vice President-elect JD Vance.

"Franklin stated that one of their challenges is consistently educating people about the venture industry, including how it collaborates with entrepreneurs, produces innovative technology and drugs, and contributes to the economy. He expressed excitement about having individuals who comprehend this coming into the administration from their perspective."

The U.S. faces tough competition from China and other foreign adversaries in the AI startup industry, with the dinner marking a critical juncture.

In 2023, American companies received more than 40% of global AI funding, surpassing China and the European Union combined. Additionally, U.S. venture capital firms invested $17.9 billion in AI startups, which helped drive advancements in generative AI technology, including ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Grok from xAI.

In the past five years, over 10,000 AI-related patents have been filed by U.S. entities, demonstrating the country's strong pool of innovators that many, including Franklin, believe Trump will support.

Recent advancements in AI technology by China pose a challenge to American dominance and may threaten U.S. national and economic security, warn analysts.

The American Edge Project has issued a report warning that China is rapidly developing its own open-source technology ecosystem as a substitute for American technology and using it to infiltrate global infrastructure with its CCP values.

The report called China's progress "both significant and concerning."

"Chinese-made AI tools are outperforming Western models on benchmarks while operating at lower costs, thereby accelerating global adoption. Through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Digital Silk Road (DSR), China is exporting its technology worldwide, increasing global dependence, challenging democratic norms, and threatening U.S. leadership and global security."

The Trump administration is expected to let the private sector lead the way in confronting China, while the Biden administration prioritized establishing regulatory bodies to establish "guardrails" for AI development. However, Trump has promised to revoke a Biden-era executive order that set policy for federal agency AI purchases and uses. The 2024 Republican platform claims that Biden's policy hinders innovation and imposes "Radical Leftwing Ideas," referring to requirements that the National Institute of Standards and Technology create guidance to ensure AI models are unbiased and do not discriminate based on race or sex.

Trump's appointment of Sacks as AI czar aligns with his associates Musk and Thiel, who both co-founded PayPal and advocate for a deregulatory approach to AI.

Perkins Coie stated that the new czar will likely be responsible for collaborating with federal agencies and external stakeholders to provide consistent advice on AI use in the federal government. They predicted that Sacks would shift his focus from the potential risks of AI to promoting and streamlining AI innovation with fewer limitations.

The gathering on Thursday is a nonpartisan event, despite the growing interest of Silicon Valley in establishing ties with the Republican administration, indicating a possible shift in political priorities.

Now, issues like immigration and climate change have brought Big Tech closer to the GOP, while Trump's populist MAGA movement has led many entrepreneurs to keep that distance.

The recognition of AI as a national priority has helped to close the gap, as has a more clearly defined Trump with key players in his second administration who have ties to the venture capital world.

"Franklin remarked, "In 2016, it was a political outsider who won, but now he's not considered one.""

Planet Chronicle Digital's Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.