U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns over the safety of artificial intelligence (AI) as a “hoax”, rejecting calls for stronger safeguards around the rapidly developing technology.
Trump, in a series of social media posts, criticized demands for increased regulation, arguing that the only “guardrails” needed for AI were provided by a “strong and smart” president, according to a BBC report on Monday.
His comments came after Jack Clark, co-founder of AI company Anthropic, called on lawmakers to consider making third-party-verified “kill switches” mandatory for the industry.
Clark said AI laboratories already had mechanisms to shut down their systems if they became too dangerous, but suggested lawmakers might need to make such measures compulsory.
The debate over AI safety has intensified following warnings from technology executives and industry staff about the potential risks the technology could pose to humanity.
Growing concerns have also contributed to a sell-off in technology stocks as investors weighed the possibility that tighter controls could slow the pace of AI development.
Meanwhile, UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds cautioned against complacency over AI, saying the technology carried risks but also offered “tremendous upsides” in areas such as public services, healthcare and the economy.
READ ALSO: Global Nuclear Power Capacity Could Triple by 2060 — IAEA
Microsoft AI has also joined calls for stronger safeguards, recently discussing limits on the models it is developing as part of its “humanist AI” approach.
The competing views reflect a growing global debate over how to balance the rapid development of AI with measures designed to manage its potential risks.
 as a “hoax”, rejecting calls for stronger safeguards around the rapidly developing technology.){kind=link}