Trump dismisses AI extinction risks as more than a dozen OpenAI, Anthropic insiders call for a slowdown

President Donald Trump dismissed worries about artificial intelligence's existential dangers, stating he was more concerned about the U.S. falling behind in the tech race. When asked directly if he held such concerns, Trump replied, "No, I don’t have any." He emphasized the importance of the U.S. maintaining its lead in AI development, noting that they currently lead China "by a pretty good period."

Trump's comments come amid growing alarm over AI's potential risks, following a viral warning from a former researcher at Anthropic and OpenAI that AI companies are "gambling with our lives" and that some researchers believe the technology could "kill us all by the end of the decade." The debate has spurred bipartisan calls for regulation, with lawmakers and some Republican legislators advocating for stricter controls on AI's rapid advancement.

Trump's stance contrasts with that of fellow Republicans, including Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz, who has expressed deep concern about AI risks while also stressing the need for the U.S. not to lose its technological edge.