Trump says he warned a senior AI executive of possible arrest over safety concerns

President Donald Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes that the White House received a report about a major AI company engaging in unsafe activity. He said he called the company’s senior executive and warned, "Get ready to go to jail. Please give your wife a kiss good night," adding that the executive was given one night to go home before potential arrest.

Trump did not name the executive, describing the person only as the leader of "one of the big" AI firms. He said the warning prompted the executive to change the company’s approach and noted that the Department of Justice is overseeing AI-related risks.

When asked about broader AI safety concerns, Trump said the United States cannot afford to fall behind China in the technology race, stating, "If we don’t have it, China’s gonna have it, and that would put us at an unbelievable disadvantage." He characterized warnings that AI could pose an existential threat as overstated, adding, "I think the risk is not nearly as real as they talk. And I think the risk can be managed."

Trump also said he is willing to work with Democrats on AI safety measures, emphasizing the United States’ leading position and contrasting it with China’s approach, which he described as lacking independent guardrails.