Trump administration reluctant to slow AI, Democrats see urgent need

As US President Donald Trump and his key allies have voiced opposition to significantly curbing the development of artificial intelligence (AI), Democratic lawmakers have expressed a pressing need for urgent action. The rapid expansion of AI and its potential risks to humanity have captured the national attention in the weeks leading up to midterm elections, with technology emerging as a central issue in the campaigns.

During a visit to Ireland, Trump highlighted concerns about negative forces that he believed were on the horizon. House Speaker Mike Johnson cautioned that hasty regulation would place the US at a disadvantage in an AI supremacy race with China, warning that losing the race would be a threat to every American. Numerous AI researchers have resigned over safety concerns, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for a slowdown in AI development to better understand the risks involved, particularly recursive self-improvement.

Despite the controversy, Republicans have largely resisted calls for regulation, with Speaker Johnson advocating for a measured approach akin to regulating other technologies in the past. Democrats, however, argue that the time for action is now, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stating that Republicans have abandoned their responsibility.

The issue has become a campaign hot topic, with AI data center expansions fueling opposition to unchecked growth. A CBS poll found that 64% of Americans expect AI to reduce the number of jobs in the United States.