Donald Trump, the President of the United States, along with Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and technology executives, will hold a meeting focused on artificial intelligence (AI) on September 29th. This news was disclosed on Thursday evening (24th) by a source close to the meeting, as reported by Axios.
The meeting takes place against the backdrop of the rapid evolution of AI and intense debates about how governments should manage the risks inherent in increasingly sophisticated systems. Major AI corporations have already issued warnings about the dangers this technology poses to humanity, advocating for government collaboration to oversee its progress.
Concurrently, various countries face challenges in keeping pace with the speed of advancements in this sector. The United States and China, global leaders in AI development, have adopted distinct paths regarding technological oversight. While Trump argues that the US does not need new specific regulations for AI, China has implemented rigorous standards for algorithms and data used in training these systems.
One of the Chinese guidelines requires that all AI-generated content be properly identified as such. This meeting between Trump, Johnson, and tech executives occurs precisely in this scenario of divergence regarding the degree of control that should be applied to the technology.
Trump's Stance on Global Control
During the United Nations General Assembly (UN), held on Tuesday (22nd), Trump declared his opposition to any international initiatives aimed at creating a global mechanism for AI control. The American president emphasized that he 'rejects any attempt to build a globalist scheme to control artificial intelligence.' Although he classifies the technology as extraordinary, Trump stressed that the United States will maintain a cautious stance regarding its development.
Technological Competition and AI Safety
The discussion about potential AI regulations in the United States is intrinsically linked to the technological rivalry with China. Mike Johnson argued against any slowdown in AI development, as this could harm American leadership against the Chinese. However, he also highlighted the need to find an appropriate balance to establish safety mechanisms.
The central issue that should guide the meeting is how to implement safeguards for increasingly advanced systems without simultaneously stalling technological advancement within the United States. Reuters confirmed the participation of Trump, Johnson, and tech CEOs in the September 29th event, although the exact names of the executives and the agenda details have not yet been released.
This meeting will take place just days after a dinner at the White House with Chinese President Xi Jinping, an event that is also expected to gather important technology industry executives. Among the anticipated guests are figures such as Sam Altman from OpenAI; Sundar Pichai from Alphabet; Tim Cook from Apple; Elon Musk from Tesla; and Jensen Huang from Nvidia.