Could AI destroy humanity? Trump dismisses the threat as a hoax

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The debate over the risks posed by artificial intelligence is intensifying, with technology executives, political leaders and international institutions calling for greater safeguards around the development of increasingly powerful AI systems.

US President Donald Trump, however, has dismissed warnings that artificial intelligence could eventually escape human control and pose an existential threat.

“I’m the hoax buster,” Trump said in one of six posts published Monday on his Truth Social platform. He mocked what he described as the idea that AI could “take over” and destroy the world, with robots invading cities and eliminating humanity.

Tech leaders call for greater caution

The latest debate was sparked by Dario Amodei, chief executive of Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI model. On Saturday, Amodei urged companies developing advanced AI systems to slow down their progress in order to better understand and address the risks associated with increasingly powerful capabilities.

His call received support from OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and entrepreneur Elon Musk.

Microsoft also unveiled a “humanistic AI code of conduct” on Monday, emphasizing the importance of maintaining human control over artificial intelligence. The company stated that AI systems should remain subordinate to human decision-making.

Concerns grow over AI control

Several recent incidents have fueled concerns that developers could eventually lose control over autonomous AI agents and increasingly sophisticated systems.

The debate is also becoming a political issue in the United States. Trump is facing opposition from voters concerned about AI data centers, which consume large amounts of energy. These facilities have become a significant issue ahead of the US midterm elections scheduled for early November.

“The reality is that AI is here. We have unleashed the beast,” Maliyka Muhammad, a 46-year-old New Yorker, told AFP. She argued that attention should now focus on finding ways to control the technology and prevent it from becoming unmanageable.

Trump, meanwhile, has stressed that the United States cannot afford to fall behind China in the global race for artificial intelligence. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the White House next week.

China raises national security concerns

Trump has also denounced what he described as an unhealthy conspiracy targeting AI and data centers, accusing opponents of the technology of betraying the country.

He has particularly criticized Dario Amodei, questioning why major technology companies are calling for stronger regulation. Trump argues that excessive regulation could ultimately damage the industry and lead to companies going out of business.

He has also called on Google to reconsider a planned $15 billion investment in artificial intelligence in Finland.

China, for its part, is also increasingly concerned about the implications of AI.

Chinese intelligence chief Chen Yixin warned Sunday that artificial intelligence posed a threat to his country's national security. He said foreign powers could potentially use the technology to destabilize China.

In an article published online, Chen described AI as a central arena of global technological competition and an emerging dimension of strategic rivalry between major powers.

UN calls for urgent action

Against this backdrop, the UN Security Council is expected to hold a meeting on artificial intelligence next week, according to a French diplomatic source.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has also called for “urgent action” to establish safeguards around AI, warning of unprecedented risks posed by the most advanced systems.

The issue is also drawing attention in the United Kingdom. King Charles III has convened a summit in Scotland that is expected to bring together representatives of major AI companies, including Google DeepMind and OpenAI.

The growing debate illustrates the widening divide over artificial intelligence: while some technology leaders and international officials are calling for stronger safeguards, Trump continues to emphasize technological competition and rejects predictions that AI could ultimately threaten humanity.