US President Donald Trump has pushed back against growing concerns over the rapid development of artificial intelligence, dismissing warnings about AI becoming dangerous as a “hoax”.
Trump made the remarks during a panel discussion on Monday after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang connected with him through a live phone call. The US president used the conversation to defend the continued expansion of AI and the infrastructure supporting the technology.
“The robots will not be taking over. The AI will not be taking over the rest of the world. The whole thing is a hoax,” Trump said.
Trump backs rapid AI development
Trump’s comments came after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently warned about the risks associated with developing increasingly powerful AI systems too quickly. Several prominent figures in the technology sector have also raised concerns about the potential risks linked to advanced AI.
Trump, however, argued against efforts to slow down the industry. He suggested that opposition to the rapid expansion of AI could have political motivations and could ultimately benefit China.
“The AI pushback is just playing right into the hands of a lot of people that don’t want to see it happen,” Trump said, adding that those opposing the push could include political figures as well as China.
Trump praises data centre expansion
The US president also highlighted the growing construction of data centres needed to support AI systems. He described the facilities as a major economic opportunity and suggested they could generate significant wealth for companies and states.
Trump compared the importance of data centres with oil, saying they could become a major economic force over the next two decades.
“It’s the oil of the next 20, 25 years; it’s bigger than the internet and AI, you know, much more so,” Trump said.
Trump says AI must be developed carefully
While rejecting calls to slow down AI development, Trump acknowledged that the technology needs to be handled responsibly. He said people would have to act “prudently” as AI continues to advance.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang backed Trump’s broader position during the discussion and praised the president for understanding the complexities surrounding the debate over AI’s future.
The comments highlight the growing divide in the technology industry and government over how quickly AI should advance, with some industry leaders warning about potential risks while others argue that slowing development could undermine technological and economic progress.
