Trump Calls Those Asking to Slow AI Down a Negative Force
President Donald Trump, while watching golf at his Doonbeg resort in Ireland on Sunday, responded to questions about the AI industry’s sudden push for self-regulation. He characterized those advocating for slowing down AI development as "negative forces" raising issues that "won’t happen."
"We can put guardrails… but I think you have a lot of negative forces that are bringing it up… and they’re bringing up things that won’t happen," Trump stated, according to The Associated Press.
This comes after prominent figures in the AI industry (explore this topic), including Dario Amodei from Anthropic, Sam Altman from OpenAI, and Elon Musk, called for slowing down development due to alignment concerns. They proposed third-party evaluators with internal access and antitrust waivers to coordinate safety efforts.
Trump’s comments suggest a shift in his stance, as he previously dismissed extinction fears and claimed the U.S. lead over China in AI was approximately one year. Now, he acknowledges the possibility of guardrails, though he did not specify any concrete measures.
Congress is also taking up the issue. Speaker Mike Johnson advocates for "some guardrails, some safety measures" while maintaining the U.S. edge over China. He aims to bring industry leaders together for a "one big meeting," which he considers a priority.
The administration’s actions, however, contradict Trump’s remarks. In May, it began underwriting AI exports through the Export-Import Bank, allocating over $100 billion in unused lending capacity to promote American AI systems globally. These are the very companies now advocating for slowing down.
By Ana-Maria Stanciuc, Editor-in-Chief, TNW