AI regulation debate intensifies as trump's team rejects industry slowdown calls

Calls for AI regulation have intensified as US President Donald Trump’s team has rejected industry-led efforts to slow AI development. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei urged the US government to regulate AI companies and slow technological advancement, a stance endorsed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk. Microsoft’s Satya Nadella also called for pacing development. David Sacks, co-chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, criticized the industry for pretending to need government permission to slow down, warning against antitrust law violations and cartel formation. Amodei sought government support for antitrust-friendly collaboration and international coordination, including with China, which Sacks doubted would join any global agreement. Trump claimed the US leads China in AI and warned against slowing development, while House Speaker Mike Johnson cautioned against rushed regulation that could let China overtake the US. OpenAI committed to Amodei’s proposal for third-party evaluators to assess safety practices. Industry leaders are taking voluntary steps to rebuild public trust, with Altman emphasizing that pacing development is worth the cost. The US views China’s AI growth as a national security threat, and officials warn that hasty regulation could jeopardize the country’s competitive edge.