Top Lawmakers Agree A.I.’s Risks Are Rising but Say They Have No Quick Fix
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-09-13 15:49:00 — www.nytimes.com
Donald Trump Downplays AI Risks, Emphasizes Competition with China
As concerns over the rapid development and potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI) mount in Washington, Donald Trump has weighed in, emphasizing the need for the United States to maintain its competitive edge over China rather than focusing on what he described as exaggerated fears.
Speaking to reporters in Ireland, Trump stated, “Look, we’re leading China in A.I. We can put guardrails, we can do this and that, but I think you have a lot of negative forces that are bringing it up that shouldn’t be bringing it up. And they’re bringing up things that won’t happen. But whoever wins with A.I., wins.”
Trump’s comments reflect a familiar pattern of downplaying or dismissing concerns raised by experts and lawmakers. In this case, he suggested that warnings about AI’s risks are being overstated by “negative forces” and implied that some of the dangers being discussed “won’t happen.” This stance stands in contrast to the growing bipartisan consensus in Congress that urgent action is needed to regulate AI and address its potential threats to safety, security, and the economy.
While other political leaders and technology executives have called for slowing the pace of AI development and implementing meaningful safeguards, Trump’s focus remained on maintaining American dominance over China in the AI sector. His remarks echo arguments made by some Republicans that excessive regulation could harm U.S. companies and give China an advantage.
Fact-checking Trump’s assertion, there is broad agreement among AI researchers and policymakers that the risks associated with AI—including cybersecurity threats, misinformation, and economic disruption—are real and require careful oversight. Dismissing these concerns as unfounded or unlikely, as Trump did, contradicts the warnings issued by both industry insiders and bipartisan lawmakers.
In summary, Trump’s response to the AI debate centers on competition with China and minimizing the risks highlighted by experts. As Congress debates how to move forward, Trump’s remarks serve as a reminder of the ongoing divide over how seriously to take the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and who should lead the effort to regulate this transformative technology.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/13/us/politics/congress-ai-risks-johnson-jeffries.html