Trump's New AI Safety Plan: From 'Hoax' to 'Super Intelligence' and Self-Regulation

Following a high-profile meal with prominent Big Tech leaders on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump addressed journalists regarding his latest pronouncements on artificial intelligence. In characteristic fashion, Trump articulated a significant shift in his stance on AI safety, moving away from his previous claims that fears surrounding the technology were a 'hoax' orchestrated by Democrats. He now asserts these concerns no longer apply, having unilaterally renamed the technology to 'Super Intelligence.' Trump also brushed aside calls for increased government enforcement of AI guardrails. He argued that such measures are unnecessary given the perceived dominance of US companies over China in the AI landscape. Rather than implementing federal AI regulations, Trump stated his new approach relies on 'the smartest people in the world watching over each other.' This statement suggests a preference for industry self-regulation and oversight, with key figures from companies like Google and others, implicitly including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, taking on this responsibility. The interaction reportedly included a moment where Trump called on Zuckerberg to speak, eliciting a visibly 'panicked look' from the Meta CEO, according to observers.