US President Donald Trump confirmed his intention to create an “AI task force” to oversee regulation of the sector, alongside appointing a new official for it in the near future known as the “AI czar”. He said the planned task force would address what he described as “bad” effects within the framework of existing sanctions laws and the current legal system.
Trump rejects curbs on AI growth
“On the contrary, we will be proud of it, support it and develop it,”
The US president wrote in a post several days ago that what he called a “malicious conspiracy” was being mounted against artificial intelligence and data centres. Trump rejected calls for new federal rules governing the technology, saying the United States needed only a strong president to manage the sector, and reiterating his view that imposing additional regulations was unnecessary.
AI on Trump and Xi’s talks agenda
In a related development, US officials said AI would be raised during talks with China. This comes as Trump prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, placing the technology among the issues expected to be discussed by the two sides.
The moves come as concerns grow among members of the US Congress about the risks AI technology could pose to people and property. Earlier in September, Jacob Coxon, a former researcher at Anthropic, said those developing artificial intelligence “seriously believe it could kill us all by the end of this decade”.
Trump, by contrast, has repeatedly played down concerns linked to the sector’s development and maintained his opposition to adding new regulatory restrictions. If he proceeds with appointing the anticipated adviser, it would become the second senior AI-related post in his administration, after David Sacks held a similar position before resigning in the spring and then moving to an advisory role outside the administration.
