KATHMANDU: United States President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns regarding artificial intelligence safety as a hoax, criticizing calls for stricter guardrails on the rapidly developing technology.
His comments follow recent suggestions by Anthropic co-founder Jack Clarke, who argued that an industry-wide mandatory kill switch should be implemented to disable AI systems if they become dangerous.
Trump took to social media to compare the warnings about AI risks to what he termed the global warming hoax. He asserted that the only guardrail necessary for AI is a strong and intelligent president.
Trump further claimed that a conspiracy is being waged against AI and data centers, suggesting that China is the only country benefiting from these restrictions. He emphasized the view that whoever wins the AI race will be the ultimate winner.
In response to the growing discourse, Chinese experts have suggested that Washington’s anxiety over AI development is influencing American policy priorities.
Professor Xin Qiang of Fudan University noted that because China has become a strong competitor, there is a fear in the US that slowing development or imposing strict regulations could allow China to advance more quickly.
Meanwhile, Microsoft AI released a document this week regarding humanist AI, discussing the implementation of certain limitations within their models. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman stated that the guidelines were released amidst intense debate over AI risks and regulation.
The topic remains a point of contention in US politics, with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and Senator Bernie Sanders scheduled to participate in a Pro-Human Assembly in Washington. Sanders previously warned that unchecked AI expansion could potentially lead to the end of humanity.
Research from within the industry continues to fuel these debates. Anthropic scientist Evan Hubinger has suggested there is a greater than 10 percent chance of human extinction within the next decade due to AI.
Industry leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI head Elon Musk, have expressed support for proposals to slow development, implement regulations, and establish independent oversight of AI models.
