Trump rejects calls from AI leaders to slow model development

President Donald Trump pushed back against calls from leading artificial intelligence executives to slow model development, arguing that the United States already has sufficient legal authority and safeguards to regulate the industry.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that the only guardrails AI needs are those provided by what he described as a strong and smart president. 

He also claimed there was a conspiracy against AI and data centers and warned that China could benefit if the US became more hesitant about developing the technology.

His comments followed a proposal from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei outlining a three step framework aimed at slowing AI development and giving governments and companies more time to address potential risks.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI owner Elon Musk also expressed support for Amodei’s proposal.

The debate intensified after Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned and warned that some people working on advanced AI believe the technology could pose an existential threat to humanity before the end of the decade.

AI linked stocks fell sharply on Monday as investors reacted to the growing push from industry leaders for a slower pace of development.

Trump said his administration had already used its authority against Anthropic and would continue acting against companies or individuals engaging in conduct the government considers harmful.

Senator Mark Warner also spoke with Amodei and Altman about AI safety concerns over the weekend, according to a spokesperson.

The debate comes ahead of Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week. The US and China are also expected to hold separate discussions on AI risks through lower level officials.