US President Donald Trump has rejected growing fears that artificial intelligence could eventually threaten humanity, describing such warnings as a “hoax” as technology leaders, governments and international institutions push for stronger safeguards around the rapidly developing technology.
Trump made the remarks on Monday in a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, dismissing claims that AI could eventually take control, destroy humanity or lead to robots taking over cities.
“I am the Hoax Buster,” Trump said, arguing that fears about AI were even more exaggerated than what he described as the “Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax” and the “Global Warming Scam.”
The 80-year-old president said the only AI guardrail necessary was a “STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT.”
Trump’s comments came as concerns over the rapid development of increasingly powerful AI systems continue to intensify, with some technology executives calling for greater caution and stronger regulation.
Dario Amodei, chief executive of Anthropic, which develops the Claude AI system, recently called for AI companies to slow aspects of their development efforts. His concerns were echoed by OpenAI chief Sam Altman and SpaceX AI chief Elon Musk.
Microsoft also published a “humanist AI code of conduct”, stating that AI should not exceed human control and that AI models should remain subordinate to humanity.
Fears Over Uncontrolled AI
Concerns about potentially uncontrollable AI systems have grown following reports involving experimental models and their ability to operate beyond intended testing environments.
The debate has also expanded beyond the technology itself, with Americans increasingly opposing energy-intensive AI data centres because of concerns over electricity consumption, infrastructure and their impact on local communities.
The issue is emerging as a political concern ahead of crucial US midterm elections in November.
“The reality is AI is here. We unleashed the beast,” Maliyka Muhammad, a 46-year-old New Yorker, told AFP.
“So I think that now we have to focus on taking steps to rein it in, to make it so that it doesn’t go crazy,” she said.
Trump Defends US AI Race
Trump, however, maintained that the United States cannot afford to lose the global AI race, particularly to China.
The president also criticised what he called a “SICK conspiracy” against AI and data centres, describing opponents of the technology as “Treasonists, Traitors, and Leakers.”
He singled out Amodei for criticism, questioning why AI companies would support regulations that he argued could drive them into financial difficulty.
Trump also doubled down on his support for AI data centres during a phone call with Jensen Huang, chief executive of Nvidia, whose chips are central to the development of advanced AI systems.
“The data centers are great, and they make people wealthy, and they make states wealthy, and it’s the oil of the next 20, 25 years,” Trump said during the call.
China Warns of AI Security Risks
China is also stepping up its focus on the strategic importance and risks associated with AI.
China’s Minister of State Security, Chen Yixin, warned that AI poses risks to national security and described the technology as the “main battleground for global technological competition.”
He cited the growing capabilities of advanced AI systems, including their potential use in cyber operations.
Global concerns over the possibility of AI causing catastrophic harm have also reached the United Nations.
The UN Security Council is expected to hold a meeting on artificial intelligence next week, while UN human rights chief Volker Turk has urged governments and AI companies to act urgently to address what he described as unprecedented risks.
Britain’s King Charles III is also expected to host representatives of leading AI companies in Scotland as international concern over the technology continues to grow.
The widening debate has exposed a sharp divide over the future of AI. While Trump argues that the United States must accelerate development to maintain its technological advantage, technology leaders, governments and international organisations are increasingly calling for safeguards to ensure that increasingly powerful AI systems remain under meaningful human control.