US President Donald Trump stated that fears regarding the safety of artificial intelligence (AI) are a "hoax" and criticized calls for increased regulatory measures for the rapidly evolving technology. His comments followed remarks by Jack Clark, co-founder of AI company Anthropic, who suggested that a mandatory "kill switch" for dangerous AI, which could be verified by a third party, may be necessary for the industry. Clark's statement was made in the context of rising concerns about the risks posed by AI, which have been echoed by various executives and employees from leading tech firms. These concerns contributed to a decline in shares of some technology companies on Monday, as investors considered the implications of a potential slowdown in AI development.
In a series of social media posts, Trump compared the warnings about AI to what he described as the "Global Warming Scam" perpetrated by the "Radical Left Dumocrats". He referred to himself as "the Hoax Buster" and suggested that the only necessary "guardrails" for AI would be a "strong and smart" president. Additionally, he claimed that there is a "sick conspiracy" against AI and data centers, asserting that only China benefits from such fears.
On the same day, Chinese state media reported that experts warned Washington's increasing anxiety over China's rapid AI advancements is distorting its policy priorities. Xin Qiang, a professor at Fudan University, indicated that the US is concerned about China's competitive edge in AI and fears that regulatory measures could hinder its own progress.
Clark emphasized the importance of having a mechanism to shut down AI software if it becomes too dangerous, suggesting that lawmakers may need to enforce such regulations. He noted that while most labs, including Anthropic, have methods to deactivate their AI systems, a standardized rule might be beneficial.
In response to the ongoing debate, Microsoft AI announced plans to limit its model development, with CEO Mustafa Suleyman stating that the company had been working on new guidelines for months, prompted by the current discussions surrounding AI technology.
The urgency of the AI safety debate is reflected in an upcoming event in Washington, where former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon and Senator Bernie Sanders will speak about re-evaluating AI policy. Sanders previously expressed the need for immediate action to address the uncontrolled growth of AI, citing potential existential threats.
The conversation about AI risks intensified recently after a viral post by Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher, raised alarms about the potential for AI to threaten humanity. In response, Anthropic scientist Evan Hubinger estimated that the likelihood of AI causing human extinction within the next decade is over 10%. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for a slower pace of AI development and closer monitoring, while other industry leaders, including Sam Altman of OpenAI and Elon Musk of xAI, have expressed support for regulation and independent oversight of AI model development.