US President Donald Trump has dismissed growing concerns regarding artificial intelligence safety as a “hoax,” criticizing demands for additional regulatory oversight of the rapidly evolving technology. The remarks come in direct opposition to statements made by Jack Clark, a co-founder of major AI firm Anthropic, who suggested that a third-party verifiable “kill switch” for dangerous AI systems should potentially become mandatory.
Clark’s comments followed a series of warnings issued in recent days by executives and staff at leading AI companies about the potential risks the technology poses to humanity. These anxieties contributed to a sell-off in tech stocks on Monday, as investors assessed the financial impact of possible development slowdowns.
In a series of social media posts on Monday, the President compared AI safety warnings to what he termed the “Global Warming Scam,” attributing the narrative to political opponents. He also likened the concerns to the “Russia, Russia, Russia” investigations, styling himself as a “Hoax Buster.” Trump further asserted that there is a “sick conspiracy” against AI and data centers, arguing that China stands to benefit from any US regulatory delays.
“The only guardrails we need are a strong and smart president,” Trump wrote on Monday. He emphasized that whoever dominates AI development will secure a decisive advantage, framing the issue as a matter of national competition.
Chinese state media responded to Trump’s stance, with Xin Qiang, a professor of American Studies at Fudan University, telling the Global Times that Washington’s anxiety over China’s rapid AI progress was distorting policy priorities. “They know that China has become a strong competitor in AI, and worry that if the US slows down development or tightens regulation, China could catch up even faster,” Xin noted.
Despite the President’s position, calls for stricter oversight continue to mount within the tech industry and politics. Clark, one of Anthropic’s seven founders, indicated that while most laboratories already possess methods to shut down their software, lawmakers may need to enforce such protocols. This aligns with actions by Microsoft AI, which recently published guidelines for “humanist AI.” Chief Executive Mustafa Suleyman stated that the company had been working on the framework for months but decided to release it now due to the intensifying public debate.
The polarization of the issue was highlighted by the announcement that former Trump strategist Steve Bannon and Senator Bernie Sanders would appear together at the “Pro-Human Assembly” in Washington on Tuesday. The event aims to chart a more human-centric path for AI development.
Sanders, who appeared on BBC’s Newsnight last week, urged immediate action to halt the “uncontrolled growth of AI,” citing the existential threat of potential human extinction. The discourse intensified following a viral post by Jacob Coxon, a researcher who departed Anthropic over fears that AI could destroy humanity. In response, Anthropic scientist Evan Hubinger estimated the probability of AI causing extinction within the next decade at over 10%.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has previously called for a slowdown in AI development and closer monitoring, insisting that such measures should not compromise commercial competitiveness. His proposal has garnered support from Sam Altman of OpenAI and Elon Musk of xAI, both of whom have endorsed industry-wide deceleration and independent oversight.
I find it surprising that tech CEOs like Musk and Altman are now pushing for strict guardrails instead of unrestricted growth.
Trump is right about one thing: slowing down just helps China win. The geopolitical angle can’t be ignored here.
Calling safety concerns a hoax seems reckless when researchers are predicting existential risks. We need oversight, not more chaos.
It is wild that Bannon and Sanders are teaming up on this. The political alliances these days are getting stranger by the minute.