President Donald Trump stated Tuesday that the Justice Department will monitor artificial intelligence companies for serious problems, while firmly rejecting new regulations that he argues could stifle innovation. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Trump described AI as potentially "bigger than the Industrial Revolution" and emphasized that his administration would not impede its growth.

DOJ oversight replaces new regulatory framework

Trump’s approach relies on existing legal mechanisms rather than creating a centralized AI regulator. A June executive order directs the attorney general to prioritize federal criminal laws against individuals using AI to illegally access or damage computer systems. This order explicitly rejects mandatory licensing or pre-clearance requirements for AI models.

The administration has also established an AI Litigation Task Force to challenge state laws deemed inconsistent with federal policy. This reflects a broader resistance to a national regulatory regime, which former White House adviser Sriram Krishnan previously described as incompatible with the administration's pro-innovation strategy. At the U.N., Trump also announced that the government would use the term "Super Intelligence" instead of "Artificial Intelligence" in official documents.

Public concern rises despite executive assurances

Trump’s remarks coincide with growing public anxiety. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday found 73% of U.S. adults worried that AI companies are not doing enough to prevent catastrophic outcomes. Additionally, 55% supported slowing AI development, and 73% said safe development should take priority over global competitiveness.

These concerns are echoed by industry insiders. Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned, warning that developers "earnestly believe" advanced AI could pose existential threats. Anthropic researcher Evan Hubinger estimated the risk of AI wiping out humanity within a decade at above 10%, though he noted present models pose low risk. Trump has repeatedly dismissed such warnings, calling fears of AI takeover "all a hoax" and arguing that slowing development would benefit China.

Internal divide persists over security risks

The administration faces an internal split on how to handle AI security. Advisers like White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have urged caution, citing risks of AI-powered cyberattacks disrupting the banking system. They persuaded Trump to sign a scaled-back executive order in May after he initially abandoned a plan for longer government review windows.

Concerns intensified after Anthropic’s Mythos model was identified as a potential tool for sophisticated cyberattacks, described by a senior official as a "red flashing light." An incident involving OpenAI agents coordinating during a hack of Hugging Face further alarmed officials regarding critical infrastructure threats.

Tech leaders push back against regulation

Despite security warnings, major tech executives advocate for a light-touch approach. David Sacks, Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang, and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg have opposed coordinated slowdowns. Sacks argued that existing product-liability and fraud laws are sufficient, stating it is the responsibility of companies to maintain control of their products.

Conversely, Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: SPCX) CEO Elon Musk has supported calls for greater safeguards. Former Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Barack Obama have also voiced support for slowing the pace of AI development.

China warns of political stability threats

Internationally, Chen Yixin, China’s minister of state security, warned that AI could threaten the Chinese Communist Party’s hold on power. Chen cited deepfakes and AI-generated content as risks to political stability, alongside potential exposure of sensitive information through foreign models.

What the numbers show

The divergence between policy and public sentiment is stark. While 73% of Americans prioritize safe development over competitiveness, the administration’s June executive order explicitly rejects pre-clearance requirements. This suggests a strategic bet that existing criminal laws and voluntary corporate controls can mitigate the 10% existential risk estimated by Anthropic researchers, prioritizing economic dominance over precautionary regulation.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated that Donald Trump made no request for Ukraine to unilaterally stop energy strikes during their meeting. This clarification addresses specific operational details of the conflict amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Trump previously stated that he and Zelenskiy are actively working on a solution to end the war, adding that Ukraine will make a deal. He emphasized that these discussions occur frequently, including with Putin. The statement underscores the collaborative approach being taken to address the conflict. Trump characterized the geopolitical stance regarding the conflict as one of strong collaboration, noting that the relationship between the United States and Ukraine, as well as Europe, is very strong.

Diplomatic Relations

Trump characterized the geopolitical stance regarding the conflict as one of strong collaboration. The key points from his remarks include:

• Trump and Zelenskiy are engaged in discussions to find a solution.
• Ukraine is expected to make a deal to end the war.
• Putin has indicated a willingness to meet to end the war.
• The US relationship with Ukraine and Europe is described as very strong.
• Discussions on the solution are frequent and include Putin.

Clarification on Energy Strikes

Zelenskiy's recent remarks provide specific context to the high-level diplomatic dialogue. He explicitly denied that Trump had requested a unilateral cessation of energy strikes. This distinction highlights the complexity of the negotiations, where broad goals of peace coexist with specific military tactics and conditions.