Confident Trump dismisses predictions of AI killing all humans and says it ‘won’t happen’… as he issues warning of his own about beating China in intelligence race
President Donald Trump has dismissed warnings that artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity, telling reporters at his golf resort in Doonbeg, Ireland, that such predictions "won't happen." His remarks come amid growing debate in Washington over how to handle AI's rapid development, with Trump instead framing the issue as a competitive race with China that the US must win to maintain global technological dominance.
The comments follow a warning from Jacob Coxon, a former OpenAI and Anthropic researcher, who told Fox News that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity as soon as 2030, comparing the difficulty of controlling AI to that of nuclear weapons. House Speaker Mike Johnson also weighed in, opposing any moratorium on AI development for fear of falling behind China, while urging AI industry leaders to meet with Congress on possible regulation without stifling innovation. Separately, former President Barack Obama reportedly told Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries that AI's rapid growth in private hands is concerning and urged him to develop a public policy framework if he becomes House Speaker after November's elections.
In short
- Trump says AI-driven human extinction predictions "won't happen"
- He frames AI as a race the US must win against China
- Ex-Anthropic researcher and Obama separately voiced AI safety concerns
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Warnings about advanced AI deserve serious attention because systems may become more capable faster than safeguards can be developed, and the consequences of losing control could be exceptionally severe. The comparison with nuclear weapons reflects a duty to assess low-probability, high-impact risks early and consider oversight before deployment makes problems harder to contain.
The case against
Predictions that AI could soon destroy humanity remain uncertain, and treating them as grounds to halt development could delay useful advances in areas such as medicine and productivity. Because China is also investing heavily, advocates of continued US development argue that maintaining technological leadership and shaping safety standards requires innovation alongside targeted regulation, rather than a broad moratorium.
Explained simply
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that can perform tasks such as generating text, analysing information or making predictions. As these systems become more capable, researchers and governments are debating how to manage their risks, including whether very advanced AI could become difficult to control.
The debate involves politicians, researchers and technology companies. Some researchers warn that future AI could pose a severe threat to people; others in US politics argue that slowing development could leave the country behind China, a major competitor in technology.
The discussion is about balancing safeguards with continued research and business development. US lawmakers are considering how government might oversee AI while allowing it to advance, and the choices could affect public safety and competition between countries.
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