Since Donald Trump took office as US President, the tech industry has seen a dramatic shift in attitudes toward the potential risks of AI development, The Washington Post reports. Tech executives now advocate for the complete abolition of any restrictions on AI development.
This shift is clearly demonstrated by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s recent testimony in the US Congress. In 2023, he supported creating a licensing agency to ensure the safety of AI technology. However, this time, he described requiring government approval for the release of powerful AI software as “catastrophic” for maintaining the United States’ leadership in AI development.
Warnings about AI posing an “existential risk” to humanity and earlier calls for proactive regulation are now largely absent from the current discourse. Instead, there is near-unanimity among tech CEOs and Trump administration officials that companies should be allowed to move forward quickly. Their argument is that the US must capitalize on AI’s potential and maintain a competitive edge over China.
Senator Ted Cruz, chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, expressed this view during a congressional hearing. “To lead in AI, the United States cannot allow regulations, even supposedly benign ones, to stifle innovation and adoption,” he stated.
Global Events Reflect Changing Sentiments
While concerns about future AI risks dominated the global AI summit in the UK in November 2023, attitudes have since shifted. At this year’s event in Paris, the change was evident. In the final communiqué, world leaders encouraged countries and companies to accelerate AI development without highlighting potential dangers.
Vice President JD Vance also criticized attempts to regulate the technology. “We believe that overregulating the AI sector could kill a transformative industry before it gets off the ground, and we will work hard to encourage AI policies that support growth,” he said. “The future of AI will not be achieved through handwringing over safety.”
Not everyone agrees with this deregulation stance. Max Tegmark, a professor at MIT and president of the Future of Life Institute, pointed out the lack of oversight. “Even the sandwich shop across the street from OpenAI or Anthropic or any other company has to meet safety standards for their kitchen before they can sell a single sandwich,” Tegmark noted. “But if [AI companies] want to release superintelligence tomorrow, they’re free to do so.”
The ongoing developments suggest a rapidly changing AI landscape in the US. We’ll keep you updated as more policies and positions emerge.