Donald Trump addressed artificial intelligence safety and regulation during an interview on 60 Minutes, asserting that the risks associated with the technology are manageable. Speaking with interviewer Ross Douthat, Trump minimized the severity of AI warnings voiced by industry executives, stating that the Department of Justice is actively handling potential threats.
Threat of Arrest for an AI Executive
Recounting a past law enforcement intervention, Trump described a scenario where an AI leader was reported for engaging in harmful activities with the technology. According to Trump, authorities contacted the individual with a severe warning, telling them to prepare for imprisonment and to bid their spouse farewell. Trump declined to disclose the specific identity of the person or the organization involved, though he specified that the individual directs one of the major artificial intelligence companies. He maintained that the threat prompted the executive to completely alter their operations.
Terminology Preferences and Global Competition
Although he has previously criticized the phrase artificial intelligence as terminology favored by his adversaries, Trump used the term multiple times throughout the broadcast. He later shifted to the phrase super intelligence, referencing Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump stated that China’s leadership is fully committed to what he terms super intelligence, arguing that it serves as a more accurate description because the technology is not artificial.
Addressing the prospect of bipartisan cooperation, Trump affirmed that he would definitely collaborate with Democrats regarding safety measures for the technology. He expressed openness to regulatory guardrails provided they do not cause the United States to lose its competitive edge, emphasizing that the nation currently holds the top position globally. He noted that China operates without conventional democratic guardrails, governed entirely by the directives of President Xi, contrasting that system with his own approach.
