Trump dismisses AI regulation calls as leaders urge slowdown amid safety concerns

President Donald Trump said on social media that the only safeguards needed for artificial intelligence are a "strong and smart" president, dismissing growing calls for regulatory oversight. His comment came as CEOs of major AI firms, including OpenAI, Google and Anthropic, have been meeting since July to explore a voluntary industry standards body.

Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei published a lengthy essay urging a slowdown in AI development, warning that unchecked progress could lead to loss of control, misuse for cyber-attacks or bioterrorism, and severe economic disruption. He also cautioned that a Chinese lead in AI would pose a grave danger to the United States and the world.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman echoed the need for "pacing" AI progress, stating that while stopping development is not realistic, safety cases and monitoring should be implemented even at added cost. Altman added that government involvement will still be required to create an international AI framework.

Vice President JD Vance described the prospect of AI companies seeking regulation as a "trojan horse," reflecting skepticism among some officials about industry-led proposals.

The debate occurs alongside other political news, including reports that a Russian oligarch funded part of Donald Trump Jr.'s Bahamas wedding and that a Russian drone strike hit near a former CIA chief, but the AI discussion remains a focal point for policymakers and tech leaders.