OpenAI CEO Sam Altman held a private meeting with Donald Trump during the Republican National Convention. According to three sources, Altman initiated the request to discuss the growing influence of artificial intelligence. This encounter occurred shortly before Trump publicly characterized concerns regarding AI safety as a hoax.
Trump reiterated his stance on AI during the All-In Summit, where he spoke by phone with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Despite Trump's claims that data centers generate wealth for states and individuals, Nvidia shares declined by 3% on the day of his comments. The broader semiconductor sector also experienced a downturn as investors reacted to potential spending slowdowns.
Industry leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and Elon Musk, have recently advocated for a more cautious approach to AI development. Amodei proposed a three-part plan to pace model capabilities, which includes granting third-party evaluators access to internal systems. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance has expressed skepticism toward AI executives who push for government regulation.
The administration's position remains complex as Trump prepares for a meeting with China's Xi Jinping. While the White House and OpenAI have not disclosed the details of the private conversation between Trump and Altman, the president has simultaneously claimed broad authority over AI companies. The discrepancy between his public rhetoric and private engagement continues to draw attention.
