AI risks can be managed; support for safety guardrails: US President

US President Donald Trump has said the risks posed by artificial intelligence can be managed, and that he supports safety guardrails for the technology. He made the remarks in an interview with a leading American television news programme.

Asked whether America should accept the risks of AI in order to stay ahead of China, he said those risks are manageable. He noted that he is open to working with the Democrats on safety rules.

'I have no objection to guardrails,' Trump said, explaining that his position is that America must not be pushed into a 'deep second place' behind China, which has no such rules; in other words, regulations must not hold America back in the technology race.

It is notable that Trump has so far favoured letting technology companies regulate themselves rather than imposing heavy government controls. Although his new comments signal a shift towards safety rules, it is not yet clear to what extent they would be enforced.