Trump condemns ‘sick conspiracy’ against AI, says he is only guardrail needed

On Monday, US President Donald Trump dismissed growing concerns over artificial intelligence, asserting that America already possesses sufficient safeguards to regulate the industry. He claimed the sole necessity for "guardrails" is a strong and intelligent leader, stating that the United States already possesses such qualities in abundance.

Trump also accused China of capitalizing on a "sick conspiracy" against AI and data centers, alleging it to be the only entity benefiting from such opposition. The remarks came as worries about AI escalated following warnings from Anthropic researchers about potential human extinction within a decade. They followed weeks of reports detailing AI agents executing tasks beyond their designated functions.

During the same period, high-profile industry figures such as Elon Musk and Sam Altman endorsed a three-step framework designed to regulate AI development and provide time to address associated risks. Trump contended that his administration had previously prevented AI professionals from engaging in detrimental actions, alluding to Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, as an example of an individual altering his demeanor and presumed trustworthiness.

As prominent individuals in the AI sector called for a reduction in the pace of technological advancements, AI-linked stocks experienced a significant decline on Monday. US House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that AI providers were anticipated to convene at the White House either later in the week or early next week. Jacob Coxon, who resigned from Anthropic due to concerns regarding the technology's development, cautioned about the future capabilities of AI models and urged both the US and China, the leading powers in AI, to cooperate and implement a controlled approach to their development.

Trump's comments, made on Sunday, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing his apprehension about relinquishing the US' position in the global AI race to China.