President Donald Trump dismissed predictions that artificial intelligence could destroy humanity Sunday, saying the U.S. must protect its technological advantage over China as political leaders debate whether development needs stronger oversight.
Speaking with reporters at his golf resort in Doonbeg, Ireland, Trump characterized catastrophic scenarios as “things that won’t happen,” the Daily Mail reported.
“We’re leading China in AI. We’re the most sophisticated country in the world, and frankly, I want to keep it that way because whoever wins AI wins,” Trump said.
The president made the remarks while attending the final round of the Irish Open at his property.
His comments followed public warnings from researchers and technology executives who argue that increasingly capable systems could become difficult for humans to control.
Trump acknowledged that some regulation might be needed but offered no specific proposals during the exchange.
The disagreement has placed questions about safety alongside the administration’s emphasis on maintaining an advantage in the international AI competition.
Jacob Coxon, a former researcher at OpenAI and Anthropic, warned during a Wednesday appearance on Fox News’ “Special Report” that AI could threaten humanity as soon as 2030.
The Daily Mail reported that Coxon discussed those concerns with anchor Bret Baier, arguing that researchers have not established reliable control over the technology.
“So unfortunately, we know how to control nuclear weapons pretty much, we don’t yet know how to control AI,” Coxon said.
His forecast represents a warning about a possible future outcome, rather than an established prediction of what will happen.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) also addressed the issue Sunday during an interview on CNN, opposing a moratorium on development.
“We can not put a moratorium on this because China will overlap us,” Johnson said, according to the Daily Mail.
Johnson called for AI industry leaders to meet with congressional leaders and administration officials to discuss the government’s potential role in regulating the technology.
He said government action should avoid policies that would “smother American innovation.”
Meanwhile, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has proposed measures to moderate development, drawing support from Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Reuters reported.
Amodei has also highlighted the difficulty of reaching international standards while American and Chinese developers compete, particularly where military advantages are involved.
Former President Barack Obama has separately called for a more public discussion of AI’s risks and the power held by private companies developing it.
The Daily Mail, citing The New York Times, reported that Obama raised those concerns at a private gathering Thursday.
“This is something that is moving very fast in private hands, and if we don’t get on top of it, I think can be dangerous,” Obama reportedly said.
Obama also addressed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), expressing confidence that Democrats would regain control of the House after November’s elections.
He urged Jeffries to establish a framework for public debate if he becomes speaker.
Johnson’s proposed meeting would bring industry executives together with federal officials, but the source report did not identify a scheduled date for those discussions.
