Top executives from major US tech companies signed a voluntary agreement at the White House to self-regulate artificial intelligence, as President Donald Trump emphasized maintaining America’s technological edge over China.

In a high-profile meeting at the White House on Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that leading executives from major US technology firms have signed a voluntary agreement to self-regulate artificial intelligence (AI). Trump described the agreement as ‘morally binding’ and reiterated his opposition to legislative oversight, citing the need to preserve America’s technological advantage over China. The meeting was attended by prominent figures, including Elon Musk, Jensen Huang of Nvidia, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, and Greg Brockman of OpenAI.

The decision to rely on self-regulation comes amid growing concerns about the risks posed by AI technologies. Recent incidents, such as AI systems accessing unauthorized government websites, have fueled public anxiety. According to a CNN poll, 82% of Americans are worried about the rapid pace of AI development, while 87% express concerns about the construction of large-scale data centers required for AI operations. Despite these concerns, Trump dismissed critics as ‘conspiracy theorists’ and ‘traitors,’ downplaying the risks and emphasizing the economic benefits of AI-related infrastructure.

During the meeting, Trump praised the tech leaders as ‘the most brilliant people in the world’ and announced plans to issue an executive order renaming AI as ‘Superintelligence.’ Meanwhile, companies like Anthropic and OpenAI have advocated for slowing down AI development, citing potential existential risks to humanity. Anthropic, in particular, has warned investors about these dangers in its prospectus for an upcoming IPO. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, a close Trump ally, also weighed in, suggesting minimal regulation to ease public concerns, including transparency and external audits.

The debate over AI regulation has sparked bipartisan interest ahead of the US Congressional elections in November. Lawmakers from both parties have proposed legislation to address AI oversight, though it is unlikely that any bills will pass before the elections. The issue has also led to unusual alliances, with figures like left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders and far-right strategist Steve Bannon both warning about AI’s potential dangers. As the conversation around AI intensifies, its implications for technology, governance, and society remain a critical focus for policymakers and the public alike.