President Donald Trump isn't here for any of that doomsday talk about artificial intelligence. In a fiery statement on his Truth Social platform, he declared he "won’t tolerate attempts to slow AI growth" and blasted critics, who he claims are liberals wanting the "decimation, or destruction, of AI." Trump insists he will not "hinder or stifle the Growth of this incredible Industry." Instead, he said, "we will cherish it, help it, and watch over it, as it grows!"
But it's not all just hot air and social media posts. It sounds like a dramatic new chapter in how Washington is handling this fast-moving technology.
This bold stance comes at a time when many Americans are actually quite worried about AI and the massive energy demands of the data centers that power it. Polls suggest folks don't want these energy-guzzling facilities built in their communities. Yet, Trump is doubling down, dismissing warnings from even the top minds in the AI industry itself. Folks like Jacob Coxon, a former AI researcher at Anthropic, have resigned and gone public, saying those building the tech "earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade." Trump, however, has repeatedly called such warnings a "hoax," a term he often reserves for issues he feels are beyond his control or don't align with his agenda.
It's no secret that Trump sees this as a technological race, particularly with China. He believes the U.S. cannot afford to fall behind. His argument for safeguarding the nation? A "STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT," which he boldly claims the U.S. has in him. He seems to think that's all the guardrails needed, not external regulations or limitations.
Adding a bit of his signature flair, Trump also launched a poll on his social media, questioning whether "artificial intelligence" is even the right name for the technology. He proposed three alternatives: "superior intelligence," "extreme intelligence," and "supreme intelligence," asking his followers to vote on which name best suits this "ever growing ‘Revolution.’"
This whole saga unfolds as Trump's presidency faces its own set of challenges. With an ongoing war in Iran fueling inflation and a looming midterm election where his Republican Party could lose its grip on the House and potentially the Senate, the President's approval ratings aren't exactly soaring. His robust defense of AI and its infrastructure might be an attempt to rally support by focusing on technological progress and economic opportunity, even as public sentiment and expert warnings point in the opposite direction.