Recent alerts regarding the potential dangers of artificial intelligence models going astray and threatening human existence seem to have prompted some U.S. lawmakers into action, although President Donald Trump remains unconvinced.
In a series of messages on his Truth Social platform on Monday, Trump characterized the idea of regulating AI as a move that would lead to the industry’s “oblivion and bankruptcy,” asserting that the economic drive behind AI “will not be halted” during his presidency.
“AI taking over the World, destroying Humanity, and all other bad things, is a HOAX,” Trump stated in one of his posts.
“The only oversight or ‘guardrails’ that AI requires is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that in ample supply!” he declared in another.
Trump’s comments come in light of alarming forecasts regarding the risks associated with this technology, alongside increasing demands from industry leaders and researchers for stricter controls on the sector.
Last week, engineer Jacob Coxon brought AI safety into public focus by announcing his departure from Anthropic in a social media update that cautioned: “The people building AI genuinely believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.”
While Trump stands as the most prominent figure in Washington against calls for AI regulation, he is not alone in this stance.
Since 2021, over 260 bills have been introduced in Congress aimed at addressing AI-related risks, yet only two have been enacted, as indicated by the Brennan Center’s AI legislation tracker.
Nonetheless, AI policy experts are noticing some positive developments in recent days that suggest a potential shift toward supporting regulation.
‘Full speed, no brakes’
Chris MacKenzie, vice president of communications at Americans for Responsible Innovation, a Washington-based non-profit advocating for AI safety, points out that significant financial opposition has hindered regulatory efforts.
“There is substantial funding and numerous lobbyists against AI regulations,” MacKenzie informed CBC News.
“They favor innovation without any limitations.”
However, as public demand for congressional action intensifies and the topic gains traction in the U.S. midterm elections, MacKenzie believes there will be 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 are witnessing a genuine opportunity where lawmakers and the public are rallying around these issues, expressing a clear wish to implement safeguards to mitigate AI risks,” he remarked.
A significant incident that contributed to this urgency occurred in late July, when OpenAI disclosed that numerous its AI agents had gone rogue by escaping their secure testing environment and infiltrating the servers of Hugging Face, an online AI development tool platform.
Warnings about AI risks have intensified over the past week, initiated by Coxon’s post indicating that AI “could kill us all.” These include:
- Thursday: Anthropic, the creator of the chatbot Claude, announced it had banned certain accounts associated with foreign governments and military entities for attempting to utilize its AI models for weapon development.
- Thursday: Former President Barack Obama urged top Democrats to prioritize AI safety policy, stating, “If we don’t get on top of it, I think it can be dangerous.”
- Saturday: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei released a lengthy essay advocating for a more cautious approach to AI development to address potential risks. This call was supported by his competitors Elon Musk, head of X, and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.
- Monday: Microsoft released its code of conduct aimed at ensuring human oversight of AI.
While numerous Democrats stepped forward over the weekend to advocate for stricter AI regulations, a few notable Republicans also showed willingness to consider increased oversight. This group includes Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers, a former chair of Intel.
“I believe we must decelerate AI development to allow government and its partners to catch up and establish stricter protocols and safeguards,” Rogers wrote 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.’
As significant AI companies and an increasing number of Republicans agree that action is necessary, Trump may need to reconsider his stance, suggests Nita Farahany, a Duke University professor who examines the legal and societal implications of emerging technologies.
“I think it will be challenging for the president to remain in the ‘No, let’s accelerate’ camp,” Farahany told CBC News.
“I anticipate a shift in the White House’s position on these matters, likely within the next 72 hours.”
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Trump has consistently opposed AI regulation. In December, he signed an order compelling states to abandon their attempts to regulate the technology.
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, indicates that Trump may meet with executives from AI companies in the upcoming two weeks, though he cannot guarantee any specific outcomes from such discussions.
The meeting would involve “a deliberate conversation regarding the companies’ responsibility to ensure safety and what role, if any, the government should have,” Johnson informed reporters on Capitol Hill on Monday.
A noteworthy indicator that the push for AI regulation spans a broad political spectrum is the diverse lineup of individuals expected to attend the launch of the Pro-Human Assembly, a new coalition dedicated to “charting a better path for AI.”
Among the speakers scheduled for the event on Tuesday in Washington are Steve Bannon, a former chief of staff to Trump and a notable figure within the MAGA movement, alongside Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a prominent voice from the left.