US President Donald Trump has dismissed growing concerns about the safety of artificial intelligence, describing them as a “hoax” while rejecting calls for stronger safeguards around the rapidly developing technology.
Trump’s comments come as technology leaders and policymakers increasingly warn about the potential risks posed by AI, including the possibility of systems becoming too powerful or difficult to control.
Jack Clark, co-founder of AI company Anthropic, recently told the BBC that the industry may eventually need mandatory “kill switches” that could be independently checked and used to shut down AI systems if they become too dangerous.
Clark said most major AI laboratories already have mechanisms to disable their systems, but suggested governments may need to introduce rules requiring such measures.
Trump, however, has criticised calls for additional “guardrails” on AI.
In a series of social media posts, he compared concerns about AI to what he called the “Global Warming Scam” and described himself as the “Hoax Buster”.
Trump argued that the main safeguard needed for AI was a “strong and smart” US president.
He also warned that restrictions on AI development could benefit China, saying: “WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS!”
The comments come amid growing debate over whether the US should slow the development of increasingly powerful AI systems or introduce stricter regulations.
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has urged caution over the potential impact of AI, while warning against exaggerating the risks.
Speaking to the BBC, Reynolds acknowledged that the technology carries risks but highlighted its potential benefits in areas including healthcare, public services and the economy.
Meanwhile, several technology companies and AI executives are calling for stronger safeguards.
Microsoft AI has outlined new guidance aimed at developing what it describes as “humanist AI”, including measures to limit some of the models it develops.
Microsoft AI chief executive Mustafa Suleyman said the guidance had been in development for months but was published amid the growing debate over AI safety.
Concerns have also emerged from within Anthropic.
Researcher Jacob Coxon, who left the company over concerns that AI could potentially pose an existential threat to humanity, recently raised the issue publicly.
Anthropic scientist Evan Hubinger has estimated that there is more than a 10% chance of AI causing human extinction within the next decade.
Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei has also called for the pace of AI development to be slowed and for the industry to be subject to greater monitoring.
Amodei has stressed, however, that efforts to regulate AI should not undermine the industry's commercial competitiveness.
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and xAI founder Elon Musk have also expressed support for greater regulation, independent monitoring and a coordinated slowdown in the development of increasingly powerful AI systems.
The debate is expected to continue as governments, technology companies and researchers grapple with how to balance AI's potential benefits with concerns about its long-term risks.