President Donald Trump stated on September 11, 2026, that he does not view artificial intelligence as a threat to human existence. Instead, he identified the primary concern as the competitive race against China, which he believes operates with minimal controls on AI development.
The administration previously issued an executive order in 2026 establishing a voluntary framework for reviewing advanced AI models. Trump characterized the current US lead in AI as a significant national security asset and expressed concern that excessive regulation could undermine this advantage.
Researchers from OpenAI and Anthropic have suggested a greater than 10% probability of AI-driven human extinction within the next decade. Meanwhile, AI researcher Jacob Coxon has publicly criticized the rapid development of self-improving systems, gaining support from various industry insiders.
The US and China are scheduled to hold their first dedicated AI safety dialogue of the current presidential term in mid-September 2026. This discussion precedes a leaders' summit set for September 24, where potential agreements or frameworks could introduce new regulatory constraints.
