Trump Dismisses AI Safety Fears as ‘Hoax’ Amid Calls for Tighter Controls
US President Donald Trump has rejected growing warnings about the dangers of artificial intelligence, describing fears that AI could threaten humanity as a “hoax” and opposing calls for tougher government safeguards on the rapidly developing technology.
Trump’s comments came after Jack Clark, co-founder of AI company Anthropic, told the BBC that governments may eventually need to require AI companies to maintain a independently verifiable “kill switch” capable of shutting down dangerous systems. Clark said most major AI laboratories already have ways to stop their systems, but suggested lawmakers could make such safeguards mandatory.
The debate has intensified following a series of warnings from AI researchers and industry executives about the potential risks posed by increasingly powerful models. Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei has called for a slower pace of AI development and stronger monitoring, while OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and xAI chief executive Elon Musk have also expressed support for greater regulation and independent oversight.
Trump, however, argued that additional “guardrails” are unnecessary. In social media posts, he compared concerns about AI to what he called the “Global Warming Scam” and other political controversies, while describing himself as the “Hoax Buster”. He also warned that restrictions on AI and data centres could benefit China, arguing that maintaining US leadership in the technology is strategically important.
The disagreement has also exposed a growing political divide in Washington over how AI should be controlled. Some Democrats are pressing Congress to act before lawmakers leave Washington for the midterm election recess, while several Republicans have favoured allowing technology companies to take greater responsibility for making their systems safe.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the issue was complex and indicated that AI companies should focus on self-regulation, although he acknowledged that Congress could have a role. He also said Trump planned to meet AI executives at the White House to discuss corporate responsibility and the possible role of government.
Several proposals are already being considered in Congress, ranging from independent safety reviews to government powers to halt AI systems deemed to pose an imminent catastrophic risk. Senator Bernie Sanders has separately called for much stronger restrictions on AI development, while bipartisan lawmakers including Republican Jay Obernolte and Democrat Lori Trahan have worked on proposals involving safety assessments and government oversight.
The debate is not limited to the US. UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said people should not be complacent about AI risks but warned against becoming overly alarmist, pointing to potential benefits in healthcare, public services and the wider economy. With AI development accelerating and governments still divided over regulation, the argument over how much control is necessary is likely to remain a major policy issue.