Trump dismisses AI extinction fears as hoax while White House debates real risks
Trump calls AI extinction concerns a hoax, but senior officials warn of infrastructure hacks, biological threats, and financial instability.
President Trump has declared fears that artificial intelligence could cause mass extinction a hoax and called data centre opponents people who want to stay backwards and poor. People who have spoken with him say his outbursts stem from worry that an AI slowdown would crash the market and trigger recession.
Silicon Valley figures have advised Trump. David Sacks, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jensen Huang all say China is the real threat to watch.
Inside the White House, officials are having a different debate. Officials warn that recent AI surprises have raised new concerns.
Hacks into infrastructure, biological risks, attacks on nuclear command systems, and job losses now seem more possible than a year ago. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is trying to negotiate AI safety talks between Trump and China's President Xi Jinping this week.
- Extinction fears are a hoax
- Trump's declaration
- David Sacks, Mark Zuckerberg, Jensen Huang
- Silicon Valley advisers
Why it mattersDeep disagreement inside the administration means safety standards may not happen. The outcome shapes how countries around the world will approach AI regulation.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but US-China AI agreement could influence how the tech is regulated worldwide and affect Australian tech firms.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 5 d ago
