Key facts
- Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) criticized President Donald Trump's approach to artificial intelligence.
- Roy advocates for a democratic approach to AI management, disagreeing with Trump's perspective.
- Roy stated that the argument "but China" is insufficient as an AI policy prescription.
- Roy believes government has a role in AI oversight, including hearings and demanding safety or security levels.
- Roy suggested that guardrails are needed for AI, comparing the issue to federal regulations on nuclear proliferation.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) has publicly diverged from President Donald Trump's views on how to manage the future of artificial intelligence. Speaking at the "Pro-Human Assembly 2026," Roy, a conservative voice known for his skepticism of government interference, argued for a more democratic and inclusive approach to AI governance.
Roy expressed that while his predisposition as a free-market conservative leans towards market-based solutions, the people leading the AI industry owe the public a better understanding of their practices. He suggested that government has a role to play through hearings, raising questions, and potentially demanding certain levels of safety or security. Roy also noted that the common argument of "but China" is not a sufficient policy prescription for AI development.
He compared the need for federal oversight in AI to regulations on nuclear proliferation, acknowledging that while government "can't solve problems very well," there is a "unique issue" at play with AI. Roy indicated that while he does not believe in shutting down AI development entirely, some degree of guardrails are necessary, and the same laws applied to humans should eventually apply to AI.