Trump Tech Advisor: AI Safety Concerns Are a 'Hoax' – No New Regulations Needed

David Sacks, external technology advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, said on Wednesday (16th) that public concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) are primarily driven by hype and media reporting—a stance that aligns with President Trump's earlier downplaying of calls for new AI regulations. Sacks is co-chair of the White House Technology Advisory Council, a body composed of industry executives and venture capitalists.

Public awareness of the potential dangers posed by AI is rising. Jacob Coxon, a researcher at AI firm Anthropic, stated he has resigned, partly because 'the people developing AI seriously believe that by the end of this decade, AI could destroy all of us.'

When discussing public concerns about AI's impact on American society, Sacks said, 'We've repeatedly seen this pattern—this fear-mongering pattern,' and described it as a 'hoax.' He emphasized that developers should be responsible for the safety of their products and will be held liable when problems arise. He added that new regulatory laws are not currently needed.

President Trump dismissed calls on Monday (14th) for new federal AI rules, stating that the only safety safeguard AI technology needs is a 'strong, smart, high-IQ' president—and that such a president already exists. He also claimed that demands from AI leaders for federal regulation of the technology are a 'hoax.'

Trump frequently uses the term 'hoax' to describe statements and reports he denies. Sacks' remarks on Wednesday, as well as Trump's earlier comments this week, appear to follow this same strategy.