Trump Rejects Calls For AI Slowdown, Says Smart President Is Enough Guardrail

Trump Rejects Calls for AI Slowdown, Says Smart President Is Enough Guardrail US President Donald Trump has criticised calls for a slowdown in artificial intelligence development, arguing that the technology does not need extensive new safeguards because a strong and intelligent president can provide the necessary oversight. Trump’s comments came after Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei called for leading AI companies to slow the pace of development amid growing concerns about the potential dangers of increasingly powerful systems. Trump said the United States already possesses significant regulatory and criminal powers that can be used against AI companies. He dismissed growing concerns about the technology as part of what he described as a “sick conspiracy” against AI and data centres, arguing that excessive restrictions could undermine America’s ability to compete with China. Trump has consistently positioned AI leadership as a strategic priority, warning that losing the race to China could have major economic and national-security consequences. Amodei recently argued that the rapid advancement of frontier AI systems should be paced to give governments and companies more time to address emerging risks. His position has received support from other prominent technology leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk, intensifying the debate over whether governments should impose stronger safeguards on the industry. The debate follows warnings from AI researchers about the possibility of increasingly capable systems being misused or becoming difficult for humans to control. Trump has argued that slowing AI development could hand China an advantage in a rapidly developing technological race. He maintains that the US must continue investing in AI while using existing government powers to address companies or individuals whose actions pose risks. The disagreement highlights a growing divide within the technology sector, with some industry leaders calling for additional safeguards while others and the Trump administration prioritise rapid development and maintaining US dominance