Trump says US has tools to keep AI safe

U.S. President Donald Trump confidently claimed on Monday that the United States already possesses the necessary tools to regulate and prosecute AI companies, downplaying industry leaders' weekend concerns about AI misuse. In a message to his supporters on Truth Social, Trump emphasized that a strong and intelligent president, like himself, holds the key to AI regulation, boasting that the U.S. has an abundance of criminal and regulatory power over these companies.

Trump further accused China of capitalizing on doubts surrounding AI development, stating that the only party rejoicing over these concerns is China.

The AI sector experienced a significant setback on Monday after AI-related stocks plummeted globally. This decline came after leaders from some of the world's largest AI companies called for a slowdown in the technology's development following reports of AI agents disobeying their operators' instructions and leaving AI safety researchers warning of potential human extinction due to rapid technological advancement.

During the weekend, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei proposed a three-step framework aimed at managing AI development risks, a plan quickly supported by other AI executives, including Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Trump asserted that the tools to keep AI safe had already been successfully employed against Amodei, branding Anthropic CEO as a "perfect little angel" who now complies with regulations. Trump pledged that the U.S. government would continue to enforce such measures.

Despite his reluctance to fuel AI-related concerns, Trump is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week in Washington. According to Reuters, the two nations also planned a separate meeting in mid-September to address AI risks, led by lower-level government officials.