Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Josh Boak The Associated Press
President Donald Trump dismissed calls for increased government oversight of artificial intelligence (AI), calling it part of a "SICK conspiracy." Tech leaders like Dario Amodei from Anthropic and Elon Musk advocate for more regulation to ensure AI safety, but Trump argues that his presidency alone is enough to prevent any misuse. He also criticized efforts to limit AI development, suggesting such constraints could give China an advantage in the field. This stance has sparked controversy and affected stock markets, with concerns over potential job losses and educational impacts from AI.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and others in the AI industry have expressed concerns about the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, calling for a slower pace to ensure better alignment with safety measures. However, on Sunday during a trip back to Washington from Ireland, former President Donald Trump dismissed these worries, stating there would be "more good than bad" from AI. On Monday, Trump reiterated his stance on Truth Social, asserting that the only necessary control over AI is provided by a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, implying the U.S. already has this in abundance. He also criticized Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and other tech leaders warning about potential dangers of AI, accusing them of being part of a "SICK conspiracy" against the technology. Trump's comments come as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares to visit Washington on September 24 for an official summit where AI development is expected to be a key topic.
Written for “Trump Downplays AI Risks” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 20 other(s) covering the same event.
President Donald Trump said Monday that he would be a sufficient guardrail against rogue artificial intelligence, claiming that any efforts to limit the technology was part of a “SICK conspiracy.”
asserted
efforts → say → conspiracy
Trump was pushing back against calls by tech leaders such as Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk to have greater government oversight of AI.
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Trump → push → AI
Their goal is to ensure the technology is developed in ways that promote safety, address legal liability, feed economic growth, advance science and preserve national security.
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that → ensure → security
The president maintained that his presence in the Oval Office should assuage any fears about AI, which has become a source of controversy after a series of hacks in recent months that showed AI agents could be working to deceive humans.
uncertain
agents → maintain → humans
“The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!”
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U.S.A. → need → spades
Trump posted on social media.
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Trump → post → media
Trump specifically said that the administration has already stopped the AI company Anthropic “from doing bad, or potentially bad” things.
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administration → say → things
Anthropic has endured an uncomfortable relationship with the Trump administration, with the Pentagon trying to label the company’s models a security risk and a temporary ban of one of its more advanced models.
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Pentagon → endure → models
Amodei published a 3,800-word essay on Saturday that called for slower development of AI.
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that → publish → AI
Microsoft on Monday published its own code of conduct to ensure that humans control AI.
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humans → publish → AI
The actions come after a series of warnings by AI experts about the technologies’ capabilities and the July 2026 cyberattack by OpenAI models on the AI company Hugging Face.
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actions → come → company
But the president has opposed such efforts to constrain AI and claims that doing so could cause China to eclipse America on AI.
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China → oppose → AI
“There is a SICK conspiracy going on against AI and Data Centers, and the only one that is happy about it is China,” Trump said.
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Trump → be → it
The president has long resisted efforts for greater government oversight of AI, embracing his philosophy going back to 2016 of “I alone can fix it.”
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I → resist → it
He returned to the White House last year by revoking a Biden administration executive order on AI oversight and only providing a fuller order of his own more than 16 months later this past June.
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He → return → own
The prospect of slower AI buildout led stocks to slip in Monday morning trading, as demand for advanced computer chips and construction materials for data centers could fall.
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demand → lead → centers
But Trump’s frustration comes as AI has also emerged as a political liability ahead of November’s midterm elections, with many voters opposing the construction of additional data centers and expressing worries that AI could lead to job losses and undermine the education of children.
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AI → come → children
Rahm Emanuel, the former Chicago mayor, Democratic congressman and White House chief of staff, said on Saturday that the Anthropic CEO’s essay was “an admission that we’re driving down a dark, winding road on wet pavement with the headlights off.
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we → say → headlights
And where’s President Trump?
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Trump → ’ → ?
Looks like he nodded off again.
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he → look → ?
It’s time to turn the lights on, put both hands on the wheel, and regain control before it’s too late.
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it → ’ → control
But the administration has repeatedly sought to minimize the risks being highlighted by AI companies.
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administration → seek → companies
Vice President JD Vance told reporters Monday morning about AI, “I don’t think Americans should be scared of anything.”
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Americans → tell → anything
Vance, speaking as he prepared to fly to Kansas for a midterm election campaign event, said that the Trump administration is concerned about AI but wants to make sure it is regulating the technology smartly, warning that the U.S. is in an AI arms race against China.
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U.S. → speak → China
“Personally, I feel a little bit weird about the fact that you have so many frontier AI tech companies kind of coming to the government and begging the government to regulate them.
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companies → feel → them
It feels a little bit to me like a bit of a Trojan horse,” Vance said.
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Vance → feel → horse
“So, I think we just have to be careful about this.”
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we → think → this
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Associated Press reporter Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.
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Price → contribute → report
