AI regulation faces political deadlock as calls grow for Congress to act

When President Donald Trump responded to mounting calls for a slowdown in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) on Monday, he was unequivocal.

"AI taking over the World, destroying Humanity, and all other things bad, is a HOAX," he wrote on social media. He earlier argued that "the only control or 'guardrails' that AI needs" is a "strong and smart" president.

Trump's view, unsurprisingly, is not shared by senior Democrats in Congress. It is also opposed by leading figures in the AI sector, who have in recent days issued stark safety warnings and made the case for government regulation.

In the US, however, new safety legislation on AI is unlikely anytime soon.

Any bill would have to pass in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to become law. Trump's staunch opposition to new guardrails on AI means the Republican Party, which has a majority in both chambers, is unlikely to break from him and back restrictions or government controls.

And even if they did, whatever bill is passed would most likely require the president's signature to take effect. Trump's dismissal of the need for regulations on Monday effectively hit pause on any hope for executive action.

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