Trump at UN opposes global AI rules, calls them ‘globalist scheme’

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump vehemently opposed the establishment of international regulations for artificial intelligence, labeling the proposal as a "globalist scheme" aimed at controlling the new technology. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Trump introduced the term "super intelligence" as a replacement for "artificial intelligence" in government communications, asserting that the world should mirror this terminology.

He questioned whether other nations would embrace the new term, stating it "sounds much better" and "is much more accurate."

Trump dismissed the warnings from AI safety advocates, drawing a comparison to the warnings about climate change, which he deemed baseless. He likened the concerns of AI safety advocates to warnings about climate change, which he deemed unfounded. Trump remarked that every significant technological advancement presents challenges, and "super intelligence" is no exception.

He cautioned that the same individuals who once predicted global catastrophe due to climate change now foretell the same fate at the hands of AI, robots, and an impending disaster.

Prior to the week-long gathering at the United Nations in New York, leaders from over two dozen countries had advocated for stringent safety measures governing advanced artificial intelligence, expressing concern that the technology's progression may surpass their capacity to regulate it. The United States and China, two major AI powers, were not among the signatories to this demand.

Trump adamantly declared that the United States "totally rejects any attempt to construct a globalist scheme to control... artificial intelligence." The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urged the US and China to initiate a dialogue on the future of AI, similar to the US-Soviet communication during the Cold War.

Guterres stressed that countries with the most advanced AI technologies bear the greatest responsibilities to humanity, emphasizing the need for channels of dialogue, transparency, trust, and cooperation.

During a crucial juncture in history akin to the strategic cooperation between US and Soviet leaders during the Cold War, Trump's administration has staunchly resisted embracing AI safety measures. Despite acknowledging the potential hazards of AI, Trump vowed on Saturday not to allow the "destruction" of the AI industry, asserting that the technology is a "major driver" of the US economy.

This stance contrasts with China's President Xi Jinping, who in July advocated for international cooperation in AI development, cautioning against monopolistic control by a single entity.