Key facts
- President Donald Trump opposes new U.S. regulation of artificial intelligence.
- Trump believes a "strong and smart" president is sufficient AI oversight.
- He described AI safety concerns as a "hoax" and alleged a conspiracy targeting AI to benefit China.
- EU officials will meet to discuss global rules for AI models.
- Democrats are calling for AI regulation before Congress recesses.
President Donald Trump has stated that artificial intelligence (AI) does not require new regulation, asserting that a "strong and smart" president is sufficient oversight. He dismissed concerns about AI's potential to harm humanity as a "hoax" and alleged a conspiracy targeting AI development to benefit China.
Trump's stance opposes that of many senior Democrats in Congress and leading figures in the AI sector, who have recently issued stark safety warnings and advocated for government regulation. However, new AI safety legislation faces significant obstacles in the U.S. Congress, including partisan divisions and an impending recess.
Meanwhile, government officials from across the European Union will gather in Brussels to discuss how to set global rules to counter the threat from new AI models. The European Commission will give "updates on EU and international AI policy" and a "technical briefing on recent AI incidents" during a gathering of the Artificial Intelligence Board. The European discussions on global cooperation will focus on work done at the G7, the G20 and the United Nations. European Commission's top tech official, Executive Vice President for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen, called for global AI rules and cooperation, noting that the EU has a law in place requiring companies to assess and mitigate risks, but "that is not the case globally." European Parliament's lead lawmaker on AI, Brando Benifei, also pressured the European Commission to push for global AI cooperation.