Trump slams AI safety advocates as conspirators aiding China
President Donald Trump said on Monday that demands for stricter AI regulation are a conspiracy that would benefit China. He argued that existing oversight is sufficient and that only a strong president is needed. His comments follow warnings from AI executives about the risks of rapid AI development.
Trump's Monday post directly attacked Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who had published a blog post proposing a three-step framework to slow AI development. Amodei warned that within six to twelve months, AI agents could potentially seize control of the internet, causing hundreds of billions in damage. His proposal gained immediate backing from Elon Musk and Sam Altman.
The controversy follows a former Anthropic researcher's resignation, with Jacob Coxon stating that AI developers believe the technology could be lethal by the decade's end. Additionally, Anthropic reported intervening to block its Claude model from assisting users in northern Yemen with missile-guidance software and bio-weapon designs, though no working weapon was fielded.
This rhetoric could polarize AI policy, making bipartisan safety measures less likely and potentially accelerating unchecked development. It may discourage researchers and executives from voicing concerns, chilling whistleblowing and independent oversight. Public trust in both government and tech firms could erode, while international competition with China might intensify, leading to a race where safety takes a backseat. Ultimately, society may face heightened risks if legitimate warnings are dismissed as conspiracy, affecting everyone reliant on digital infrastructure.