Trump rejects calls to slow AI development, cites US lead over China

Dublin, Ireland. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States should maintain its leadership in artificial intelligence, dismissing concerns raised by what he described as “very negative forces” about risks he said would not materialise.

Speaking to reporters at his Ireland golf course, Trump said the United States was ahead of China in AI and argued that “whoever wins AI wins.”

Trump opposes slowing development

Asked whether the AI industry should slow its development or face greater regulation, Trump said guardrails could be introduced but cautioned against raising concerns over outcomes he said would not happen.

“We could put guardrails. We can do this and that. But I think you have a lot of very negative forces that are bringing it up that shouldn’t be bringing it up and they’re bringing up things that won’t happen,” he said.

Trump has resisted amplifying concerns about AI. During his second term, his administration has largely embraced AI firms, while AI industry leaders and other technology companies have supported Trump’s initiatives.

Warnings from Anthropic researchers

Trump’s comments followed a week of concern in the United States after two Anthropic researchers warned that rapidly advancing artificial intelligence could lead to human extinction in the not-too-distant future.

The Pentagon earlier this year warned of risks associated with Anthropic’s model.

Following the researchers’ warnings, some AI chief executives have called for a slower pace of development. Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei on Saturday outlined a three-step framework intended to pace development and allow more time to manage risks.

Jacob Coxon, one of the Anthropic researchers who resigned before issuing the warnings, called for the United States to work with other countries to manage the pace of AI development.