US President Donald Trump defended his administration's approach to artificial intelligence regulation in a FOX News interview published on Friday.
He said Washington has guardrails in place while asserting that Beijing's main check on the technology is its leader.
Asked what guardrails could ensure that the US wins the AI race against China while reassuring Americans wary about data centers, Trump pointed to Anthropic: "They did something that was very bad. Three months ago. And we shut them down. We shut them down fast.”
Earlier this year, the Trump administration branded Anthropic a security risk and barred it from working with the US government.
Late last month, a federal judge ruled that the move was illegal.
Trump also said: "We have guardrails. The biggest guardrails are having people that are just as smart because nobody understands it except you have to be extremely high IQ.”
Turning to Beijing, he said, "China doesn't have guardrails, by the way … President Xi is the guardrail. I mean, you can do anything in China."
Trump insisted that the US is ahead in the technological competition, arguing that America is "competing with China. As you know, we are winning. You know we are winning against China with respect to AI."
He described the stakes in sweeping terms, claiming AI is "bigger than the internet" and "probably" bigger than the Industrial Revolution.
"It could be, and we'll know in about a year, it could be the biggest thing of all. And it's mostly for the good."
Lawmakers urge speaker to cancel recess
Several members of the US Congress are urging House Speaker Mike Johnson to cancel an upcoming recess and keep Congress in Washington until lawmakers take action on artificial intelligence safeguards, Axios reported on Friday.
Citing a letter drafted by Democratic Rep. Sam Liccardo from California and backed by Reps. George Whitesides, Lori Trahan and Ted Lieu, the report said it calls for the House to return immediately and remain in session until bipartisan AI protections advance.
The lawmakers cited recent warnings from current and former researchers at the AI firm Anthropic, stating that advanced AI could pose an existential threat to humanity within the next decade.
The House is scheduled to return Monday but will leave Washington after a week for a recess until November 9.
The letter highlights bipartisan proposals, including an AI Kill Switch Act, which would require humans to retain the ability to slow or shut down AI systems, and the FRONTIER Act, which would establish a national regulatory framework.
Johnson is planning a vote next week on legislation addressing data-centre energy costs but has not indicated plans for broader AI regulation before November 3, the day of highly anticipated US midterm elections, with hundreds of Senate and House seats hanging in the balance.
