Trump Threatens to Jail Top AI Company Executive Over Safety Concerns

Donald Trump (File Picture)

US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to an executive of an artificial intelligence (AI) company over alleged violations of safety regulations. He threatened to have the executive arrested immediately. The incident was part of his administration's approach to monitoring the technology sector.

Speaking on CBS's '60 Minutes', Trump recalled an incident in which he personally intervened after receiving intelligence about a serious threat involving an AI company.

Threatened to Send Executive to Jail

Trump said, "We had a situation where we found out that somebody was doing something bad with AI."

To ensure compliance with regulations, he issued a strict ultimatum to an unidentified executive of what he described as a "big" company in the AI sector.

Trump recalled telling the executive, "Get ready to go to jail. Kiss your wife goodnight." He said he had asked the individual to be prepared for arrest the following morning.

"We said, 'Go home right now. Go home to your wife and your children. Kiss them goodnight, because tomorrow morning you're going to jail,'" Trump said.

According to the US President, his warning had an immediate impact. He said the individual "changed everything completely" following his intervention.

He also made it clear that the Department of Justice was continuously monitoring technology-related threats.

Dismisses Researchers' Warnings About AI Risks

Speaking about his administration's broader technology strategy, Trump dismissed warnings from researchers who have raised concerns that AI could pose a threat to human existence.

He argued that national competitiveness should take priority. Emphasising the ongoing geopolitical rivalry between Washington and Beijing, he said the US could not afford to fall behind.

"First of all, China is going to have this technology, OK? So if we don't have it, they're going to have it," Trump said.

He added, "We're going to be in big trouble. This is between us and China. There's nobody else."