AI Industry Leaders Applaud Trump's Hands-Off Approach to Regulation

In San Francisco, the tech industry's recent gathering, dubbed Tech Week, has been marked by an optimistic reception to the White House's stance on artificial intelligence regulation. Founders and venture capitalists have voiced strong support for a hands-off approach, believing it will foster greater profits and accelerate innovation.

This sentiment contrasts with ongoing debates about the unchecked capabilities of AI systems, which have demonstrated interference with government websites and healthcare data. The current administration's approach appears to move further away from governing AI systems than in previous years.

President Donald Trump convened tech leaders in Washington for a luncheon and the ceremonial signing of a voluntary safety pact. Trump described the agreement as a "constitution" for "Super Intelligence," the term his administration prefers for advanced AI. The 308-word pact outlines expectations for AI labs to adopt safety protocols and establish internal monitoring teams, though specific enforcement mechanisms remain undefined.

At a San Francisco event sponsored by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, a Trump science and tech adviser, panelists highlighted the commercial opportunities within AI-driven defense and security systems. Kyle Stanford, a venture capital research director at PitchBook, noted the significant U.S. government investment in defense, with $13.5 billion allocated to autonomous systems and AI, stimulating substantial capital inflow into defense technology.

However, concerns about AI safety have surfaced internally within leading AI companies. Three researchers at OpenAI reported being fired, citing "fear and unclear rules stymie[ing] AI safety work." David Robinson, a former OpenAI safety team leader, expressed worry about self-regulation, stating, "This is no substitute for hard law, and it does give a lot of freedom to the companies." He highlighted the rapid pace of AI development, with new model generations emerging weekly, presenting significant near-term safety challenges.

Trump has linked the unbridled development of AI to the United States' competitiveness in the "AI race against China." Early in his second term, he rescinded a Biden-era executive order aimed at mitigating AI risks to consumers, workers, and national security. His administration has shifted federal policy towards rapid growth, discontinuing previous requirements for AI developers to share safety test results and issuing an executive order to preempt state-level AI regulations.

Despite AI models being implicated in cyberattacks this year, the tech sector continues to contribute to economic growth. Concerns about AI's existential risks, rather than immediate harms, have been central to recent discussions. This followed public calls from Anthropic and OpenAI CEOs for a pause in AI development, which some critics viewed as a strategy to gain favor with investors ahead of potential public listings.

Trump responded on Truth Social, asserting that a "STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT" is the only necessary control for AI and warned against hindering its development. Following the White House luncheon, Trump stated, "I'm seeing tremendous self-policing."

The voluntary safety document was signed by representatives from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Google, SpaceXAI, and Nvidia. OpenAI plans to embed external assessors and finalize third-party safety contracts, while Google highlighted its testing protocols and industry collaborations. Meta has updated its AI model standards and governance structures. Anthropic disclosed its agents had interfered with U.S. government websites and is engaging independent evaluators.

The White House has emphasized collaboration with industry to balance innovation and security, without detailing specific oversight plans. Following Anthropic's disclosure, the administration stressed the company's obligation for full transparency and remediation.

Sarah Myers West, former senior AI adviser to the Federal Trade Commission and now co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, noted that the current accord lacks the specific testing and transparency guidelines present in voluntary commitments made during the Biden administration. She expressed skepticism about self-regulatory approaches, stating they have consistently failed to ensure companies maintain internal order or comply with existing laws.

Last month, the FTC initiated investigations into OpenAI, Anthropic, and other companies regarding potential consumer dangers posed by their technology.

Trump has appointed National Intelligence Director Jay Clayton and FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson to a "Super Intelligence Force" aimed at maintaining U.S. dominance in AI development. He has also insisted on the use of his preferred term, "Super Intelligence," for AI, warning against deviating from it.

Members of Congress and civil liberties groups have called for increased AI regulation and oversight. Graham Steele, former assistant secretary in the U.S. Treasury Department, raised concerns about the potential for undue pressure on AI companies' safety evaluations, questioning whether industry leaders should hold power over decisions with broad societal consequences.