Public Policy Memo Analysis

Olivia Burd

Persuasive Public Policy Writing

Prof. Baumunk

February 2, 2025

Assignment 1: Analyze a Public Policy Memo

Walter Scheirer’s memo titled “Create sensible AI policies that focus on real–not speculative–concerns” has been written directly to the President, Donald Trump, however, it is also relevant to and will most likely be read by his entire administration. The purpose of this memo is to convince and persuade the new administration to update the policies regarding AI in order to focus on the real issues at hand rather than hypothetical issues. It’s important that these policies are discussed because AI is rapidly changing aspects of our society. As technology keeps growing, so does the impact that AI has on us.

AI has the ability to make great, positive impacts on our society but it’s also important that we recognize and understand the risks and negative impacts of AI. In order to stay on top of this, the policy that the author is suggesting is an “establishment of a President’s Council on AI” (Scheirer, 2025). Scheirer explains that these recommended policies “must address problems without inhibiting the country’s dominant position in this space and avoid placing attending on speculative concerns that are an unnecessary diversion” (Scheirer, 2025). Ensuring that these policies don’t inhibit us is what makes this solution better than previously tested solutions. The Biden administration had suggested, through an executive order, that information about AI should be shared with the government. This automatically makes some users skeptical of AI, and therefore less AI users which eventually curbs our “dominant position”. Premature government intervention also creates an unnecessary diversion. With all of that being said, previous solutions slowed down the progress we’ve made with AI.

The author begins this memo by informing the reader of the history, background, and importance of AI. Scheirer also takes the time to inform the reader of the dangers created by AI and how new policies can address them. Persuasion is used when Scheirer shares the opportunities that AI has created for us, such as creating jobs and contributing to healthcare and education. Sharing positive information like this persuades the reader to agree with the proposed solution in this memo.

References:

Scheirer, W. (2025, January 16). Memo to trump: Create sensible AI policies that focus on real-not speculative-concerns. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. https://thebulletin.org/2025/01/memo-to-trump-create-sensible-ai-policies-that-focus-on-real-not-speculative-concerns/