As Trump prepares to take the oath of office for the second time, the United States appears poised to lead the world into a new tech golden age. Trump’s policies could be the key to making it possible.

From quantum computing to artificial intelligence (AI), self-driving cars, and new energy breakthroughs, the American tech sector is bursting with innovation.

Just this month, Google announced the creation of Willow, the most powerful computer chip in history. According to the company, Willow “performed a standard benchmark computation in under five minutes that would take one of today’s fastest supercomputers 10 septillion (that is, 10²⁵) years.”

Forbes reports that Willow represents a “giant leap forward” in the field of quantum computing that “promises to disrupt everything from healthcare to finance to scientific research.” Problems that today’s computers can’t begin to solve could be easily solved in minutes by Google’s Willow chip. Cancer research could be sped up by decades, while the military could use the technology to identify threats before they arise.

At the same time, American companies are continuing to pioneer ever-more advanced AI models that are rapidly reshaping everyday life, driving innovations that improve efficiency, convenience, and decision-making. AI virtual assistants, content creation software, and smart home devices can compose emails, generate creative works, automate customer service, and control household functions through voice commands.

In healthcare, AI is enhancing diagnostics by analyzing medical images more accurately and quickly than ever before, helping doctors detect diseases early. In transportation, self-driving technologies and traffic management systems powered by AI are making commutes safer and more efficient. Businesses are increasingly using AI for data analysis, supply chain management, and cybersecurity, allowing for better strategic decisions and streamlined operations.

New technologies like advanced computing and AI have also helped usher in an engineering revolution that is redefining what humankind is capable of building. SpaceX, under the leadership of Elon Musk, has transformed space travel and rocket technology, making significant strides toward reusable space vehicles and future interplanetary exploration.

This year, the company achieved new milestones with its Starship program, the most powerful rocket ever developed. With successful test flights demonstrating the viability of fully reusable rocket stages, Starship is poised to dramatically lower the cost of space travel and support ambitious missions, including NASA’s Artemis program to return humans to the Moon by 2025.

Furthermore, Musk’s vision for Mars colonization is advancing with the ongoing development of life-support systems, in-orbit refueling technology, and spacecraft capable of carrying large payloads and crews. These advancements are not only making space exploration more accessible, but are also pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and capability, laying the groundwork for a future where space travel could become routine for both scientific and commercial purposes.

It was not long ago that all of these technologies – chatbots that can create hyper-realistic videos and images, ultra-powerful computers that might be able to cure cancer, and interplanetary travel – were confined to the pages of science fiction. But now, thanks to American innovation, the world is on the cusp of bringing them into the mainstream.

But in order to fully realize the potential of these breakthroughs, American industry needs one thing: cheap, abundant energy. AI data centers demand an enormous amount of energy, as do quantum computers and research and testing facilities for space exploration. From this standpoint, Trump’s return to the Oval Office may prove to be the key to fully unlocking the potential of America’s burgeoning tech revolution.

Trump pledged throughout his campaign to ensure the United States has the “number one lowest cost” energy in the world – following four years of skyrocketing energy prices under Joe Biden. To reverse that trend, Trump has advocated for an “all of the above” approach to energy production that includes opening up more oil and gas leases, continuing to use existing renewable energy sources, rebuilding America’s nuclear energy infrastructure, and investing in new technologies.

During his first term, Trump took steps to advance the development and deployment of small modular reactors, advanced nuclear reactors that are smaller in size and output compared to traditional nuclear power plants allowing for easier manufacturing, scalability, and deployment. While that progress largely stalled under the Biden administration, it could see a resurgence with Trump returning to the White House.

Trump will also be in a position to capitalize on a significant milestone in fusion energy that was achieved in late 2022 and further refined in 2023 when scientists at the National Ignition Facility in California achieved a net energy gain during a fusion reaction for the first time in history.

This breakthrough demonstrated that it is possible to produce more energy from fusion than is consumed to initiate it. Fusion energy, which mimics the process powering the sun, holds the potential for a nearly limitless and carbon-free power source. While commercially viable fusion energy is likely still decades away, Trump’s commitment to new energy technologies could lay the groundwork to realize this goal.

Trump himself is a builder and visionary, creating one of the most prominent real estate and entertainment empires of at least the last century. Now, he could be positioned to usher in a new golden age of innovation and advancement that will reshape history and benefit not just the United States, but the entire world.

Andrew Shirley is a veteran speechwriter and AMAC Newsline columnist. His commentary can be found on X at @AA_Shirley.