'I am the hoax buster': Trump rejects AI danger warnings

On Monday, US President Donald Trump dismissed concerns that artificial intelligence could destroy humanity, labeling them as a hoax. In a series of six social media posts, Trump referred to AI fears as wilder than previous false alarms like the "Russia Russia Russia" and "Global Warming Scam" controversies. The 80-year-old president suggested that only a "strong and smart" (high IQ) president could provide the necessary AI guardrails.

Trump's stance comes as international alarm about AI grows, with major players such as Anthropic's Dario Amodei, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Elon Musk expressing calls for slowing down AI development. Microsoft published a "humanist AI code of conduct," reflecting the mounting concerns. Americans are increasingly opposing energy-hungry AI data centers, an issue that could impact the upcoming US midterm elections.

While Trump acknowledged the need for the US to compete with China in AI, he criticized AI opponents as "traitors" and "treasonists." Beijing also warned that AI poses a threat to national security, potentially endangering social order. The United Nations Security Council will convene a meeting on AI next week, and UN human rights chief Volker Turk called for urgent measures to rein in AI, warning of unprecedented risks. Even British King Charles III is set to host AI representatives in Scotland.