Trump discusses AI safety and DOJ threats in 60 Minutes interview

In short: In a 60 Minutes interview, Donald Trump downplayed AI safety risks and said the Justice Department warned an unnamed AI executive about possible jail time.

What happened

In an interview on 60 Minutes, Donald Trump was asked about warnings from AI company leaders that their AI systems might not be safe. AI systems are computer programs that can write, talk, or make images, a bit like a very fast assistant that learned from lots of examples.

Trump said he thinks the risk is “not nearly as real” as some executives claim. He added that the risk “can be managed” and said it is already being managed.

Trump said the US Department of Justice, or DOJ, is handling the problem. He claimed there was a case where someone was reported as “doing something bad with AI,” and that the government called the person and said, “Get ready to go to jail. Please give your wife a kiss good night.” Trump did not name the person or the company, but described them as the leader of “one of the big” AI companies. He also claimed that after this warning, the person “totally changed everything.”

60 Minutes interviewer Ross Douthat also asked whether Trump would work with Democrats on AI safety. Trump said he “absolutely would,” and said he does not mind “guardrails,” meaning rules meant to limit harm. He also said he does not want the US to fall behind China, which he claimed has fewer limits.

Why it matters

AI is being used in more everyday products and services, so public comments from political leaders can shape how strict future rules are. But Trump’s story includes no names or details, so it is hard for the public to judge what actually happened or what enforcement looks like in practice.

Source: The Verge AI