Trump dials Nvidia CEO, slams AI safety regulations as a 'hoax'

Highlights:

• Trump dismisses AI safety concerns as 'hoax'

• President urges US to beat China

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• Data centres praised as economic opportunit

• AI safety debate intensifies across industry

US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his support for artificial intelligence development, dismissing concerns over AI safety as a "hoax" during a phone conversation with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at an industry summit.

Trump called Huang during the All-In Summit yesterday (14 September), with the Nvidia chief putting the president on speakerphone, reports NBC.

"The robots will not be taking over. AI will not be taking over the rest of the world. The whole thing is a hoax," Trump said, arguing that critics of rapid AI development were helping those opposed to technological progress, including political opponents and China.

Trump also told Huang that the US must maintain its lead over China in AI innovation and development.

"We're going to make sure that everybody wins in the AI race in America," Huang said, referring to industries, companies, states and individuals.

Trump also defended the expansion of data centres despite opposition in some communities, describing them as "great" and saying they could make people and states "wealthy".

He described AI-related infrastructure as "the oil of the next 20, 25 years", while acknowledging that its development should be approached prudently.

A video of the conversation was posted on X and later reposted by the Trump War Room account, which is linked to a Trump-aligned political action committee. The exchange was also featured in a podcast Huang was recording at the time.

Nvidia declined to comment on the conversation or whether Huang would soon meet Trump to discuss AI.

During the call, Trump said he assumed Huang shared his views on AI development, to which the Nvidia CEO agreed.

Trump's remarks came as several prominent figures in the technology industry have called for stronger safeguards and greater caution over the rapid development of AI.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has recently argued that AI development requires additional safeguards. His position has received support from Tesla CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

The debate has intensified following the departure of researchers from major AI companies who raised concerns about AI safety, with some warning of potentially existential risks.

Former US President Barack Obama has also urged Democrats to prioritise developing an AI policy agenda.

Trump, meanwhile, has remained firmly supportive of AI development. In social media posts on Monday, he described concerns over AI as a "SICK conspiracy" and a "hoax".

Huang, who serves on Trump's council of science and technology advisers, has also lobbied lawmakers over Nvidia's international chip sales.

The debate has centred on concerns that expanded exports could benefit China and weaken US technological leadership.

The call came as House Speaker Mike Johnson said the technology industry should take the lead on AI safety.

Johnson said Monday that Trump planned to meet AI leaders, although no firm date had been announced.