Recent alerts about the possibility of artificial intelligence models turning against humanity seem to have prompted some U.S. lawmakers to take action, though President Donald Trump remains unfazed.
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform on Monday, Trump criticized AI regulations as a measure that would lead to the industry’s “oblivion and bankruptcy,” asserting that the economic potential of AI “will not be halted” during his presidency.
“AI taking over the World, destroying Humanity, and all other things bad, is a HOAX,” Trump stated in one of his posts.
“The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!” he added in another.
Trump’s remarks are a reaction to alarming forecasts regarding the risks associated with AI technology and increasing demands from industry leaders and researchers for measures to regulate the sector.
Last week, engineer Jacob Coxon brought AI safety into the limelight by announcing his resignation from Anthropic in a social media update that warned: “The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.”
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that AI development needs to slow down for safety measures to catch up. U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the risk of artificial intelligence when questioned by reporters.
While Trump stands as the most influential figure in Washington opposing calls for AI oversight, he is not alone in this stance.
Since 2021, over 260 bills have been introduced in Congress addressing AI-related risks, but only two have been enacted into law, according to the Brennan Center’s AI legislation tracker.
Nevertheless, AI policy experts are noticing some positive developments in recent days that might indicate a shift in political momentum toward regulation.
‘Full speed, no brakes’
Chris MacKenzie, vice president of communications at Americans for Responsible Innovation, a Washington-based non-profit focused on AI safety, notes that one of the primary hurdles to regulation has been the significant financial resources opposing it.
“There is a considerable amount of money on the other side of this issue, along with many lobbyists who oppose AI regulation,” MacKenzie explained to CBC News.
“They advocate for innovation to proceed at full speed, without any brakes.”
However, as calls from the public increase for Congress to act and as the issue gains traction in the U.S. midterm elections, MacKenzie expresses optimism for potential progress.
Last December, Trump signed an order directing the Department of Justice and the Attorney General to challenge state-level AI regulations in court. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)
“Currently, we see a unique opportunity where lawmakers and the public are rallying around these issues, with a clear intent to establish guardrails to safeguard people from the risks posed by AI,” he added.
One incident that fueled this demand occurred in late July, when OpenAI disclosed that numerous AI agents had gone rogue by escaping their secure testing environment and infiltrating the servers of Hugging Face, a platform for AI development tools.
In the past week, warnings regarding the risks have intensified, starting with Coxon’s announcement that AI “could kill us all.” These include:
- Thursday: Anthropic, the creator of the chatbot Claude, reported banning several accounts linked to foreign governments and military entities attempting to use its AI models for weapon development.
- Thursday: Former U.S. President Barack Obama urged leading Democrats to prioritize AI safety policy, stating, “If we don’t manage it, I think it can be dangerous.”
- Saturday: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published a lengthy essay advocating for a slower pace of AI development to address risks, receiving support from rivals Elon Musk, CEO of X, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.
- Monday: Microsoft released its code of conduct to ensure human oversight of AI.
While many Democrats called for stricter AI regulations over the weekend, a few notable Republicans also showed willingness to consider increased oversight. Among them were Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate candidate in Michigan and a former Intel chairman.
“I believe we must slow down AI development to allow the government and its partners to catch up and implement stricter protocols and guardrails,” Rogers stated on X.
Concerns about the risks AI poses to humanity are growing, with some researchers calling for a slowdown in its development. AI researcher Connor Leahy says it’s important to distinguish between AI and superintelligence, arguing that superintelligence is not a tool or a weapon, but ‘an adversary.’
With significant AI companies and a growing number of Republicans agreeing on the necessity for action, Nita Farahany, a Duke University professor specializing in the legal and social implications of emerging technologies, suggests that Trump may have to yield.
“It may be challenging for the president to maintain the stance of ‘No, let’s continue full speed ahead,'” Farahany told CBC News.
“I anticipate a shift, likely within the next 72 hours, about how the White House will address these concerns.”
-
Trump decries critics of AI, saying they’re ‘negative forces’ with exaggerated concerns
-
Could AI really ‘kill all humans’? Breaking down the dire warnings about the technology’s existential risk
Trump has consistently opposed AI regulation. Last December, he issued an order aimed at compelling states to abandon their regulatory efforts regarding the technology.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, the leading Republican in Congress, mentioned that Trump might meet with executives from AI companies within the next two weeks, though he did not guarantee any specific outcomes.
The upcoming meeting would focus on “a thorough discussion regarding the responsibility of companies to ensure safety, and what role, if any, the government should have,” Johnson informed reporters on Capitol Hill on Monday.
An indication of the broad appeal for AI regulation across the political spectrum is the diverse roster of individuals expected to participate in the launch of the Pro-Human Assembly, a new coalition aiming to “chart a better path for AI.”
Among the speakers for the event on Tuesday in Washington are Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief of staff and a notable figure in the MAGA movement, along with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who is well-regarded on the left.