US President Donald Trump has characterized demands for stricter government oversight of artificial intelligence as part of a “sick conspiracy” designed to hinder American technological progress and allow China to surpass the United States.
In a Truth Social post on Monday, Trump wrote that those advocating for controls on AI and data centers are enabling Beijing’s rise. He asserted that his administration had already prevented AI firms from engaging in dangerous activities, specifically referencing Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, whom he accused of feigning innocence. Trump warned against what he termed “conspiracy theorists, treasonists, traitors, and leakers,” adding that the only guardrails AI requires are those provided by a strong and smart president.
This statement marks the second consecutive day the president has pushed back against slowing AI development. On Sunday, he echoed similar sentiments, claiming that negative forces were raising alarms about risks that “won’t happen.” These comments come amid intensifying concerns from legislators, tech experts, and AI executives regarding the potential for the technology to rapidly exceed human control.
The debate was reignited over the weekend when Anthropic’s Amodei published a blog post arguing the industry must decelerate its advancements to establish adequate safety measures. Amodei warned that within six to twelve months, AI agents could potentially seize control of the entire internet, causing hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. His proposal, which outlined a three-step framework for pacing development, was swiftly supported by prominent figures including Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
Tensions within the industry have also surfaced through internal dissent. Last week, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned, citing fears that the technology could become uncontrollable by the end of the decade. Additionally, Anthropic recently disclosed that it had blocked attempts to use its Claude model for cyber-espionage, weapons design, and mass surveillance, including requests from users in northern Yemen linked to Iran-backed Houthis.
The anxiety over unchecked AI growth has already triggered significant market volatility. OpenAI’s planned initial public offering, which targeted a valuation of up to $1 trillion, has been delayed. Globally, AI-linked stocks suffered sharp declines on Monday. In the US, the Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.7 percent, while semiconductor giants Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices fell by 3.5 percent and 5.6 percent, respectively. The Philadelphia chip index decreased by 6 percent, with equipment makers Lam Research and Applied Materials tumbling nearly 8 percent. International markets also felt the impact, with Europe’s tech sector sliding 2.3 percent and Asian giants like SoftBank, TSMC, and SK Hynix posting steep losses.
Market reaction proves investors are nervous regardless of presidential opinions. Calling safety concerns a ‘sick conspiracy’ ignores the tangible financial fallout seen Monday.
Amodei’s warning about AI agents taking over the internet seems terrifying. Is Trump really dismissing this as a conspiracy without reading the actual risks?