Trump Downplays AI Concerns Amid Calls for Caution from Tech Leaders

Trump Dismisses AI Concerns Amid Industry Warnings

President Donald Trump, while attending the Irish Open golf tournament at his Trump International Golf Links in Doonbeg, Ireland, expressed skepticism over warnings about artificial intelligence (AI) potentially going rogue. His comments come in response to calls from tech industry leaders to curb AI development.

Trump told reporters that fears surrounding AI advancements are overstated and influenced by “negative forces” making unrealistic claims. “We’re leading China in AI, we’re the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly, I want to keep it that way because whoever wins AI, wins,” Trump stated. He acknowledged the necessity for “guardrails” but criticized those raising concerns.

The President did not clarify what he meant by “negative forces.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, in an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, echoed Trump’s sentiments, opposing a halt on AI technology development. “If Congress just races in and does some sort of emergency session to try to regulate AI, we will lose the race to China,” Johnson warned, advocating for tech companies to lead in creating safer AI systems.

The discussion follows a call from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who in an essay urged for a slowdown in AI’s capability enhancement. Amodei highlighted the risks of losing control over AI and its potential use in cyberattacks and bioterrorism. He advocated for international cooperation and embedding third-party evaluators within labs to ensure safety measures.

Tech figures like Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman supported Amodei’s cautious stance. Altman shared his intention to delay OpenAI’s public offering until 2027 due to safety concerns, as mentioned in Fortune Magazine.

David Sacks, co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, reacted to these warnings on social media. “I don’t see what you see in the lab,” he noted on X on Sunday, encouraging responsible decisions but urging tech leaders to cease seeking external approval for such actions.

Sacks also criticized the tech industry’s motives, suggesting, “Most of all, stop pretending the motivation to slow down is purely altruistic,” pointing to potential product-liability risks if AI products are misused.

NPR’s Shannon Bond contributed to this report.