Trump Says U.S. Should Not Slow AI Development in China Race

President Donald Trump said the United States should not slow artificial-intelligence development as it competes with China, arguing that preserving the country’s lead requires continued growth in the technology.

Trump wrote in a Sept. 21 post that the United States was “leading now over China, and everyone else,” and said he would not restrain AI growth. He compared the technology’s potential significance with the Industrial Revolution and the internet.

Trump said he would continue encouraging artificial intelligence, which he also called “SI (SUPER INTELLIGENCE).” He added that the Justice Department and other law-enforcement bodies could intervene if necessary.

“We will be careful,” Trump wrote, “and that’s why we have the Department of Justice, and other Law Enforcement bodies, that will rein things in if we have to.”

The position prioritizes development speed and competition with China amid debate over tighter limits on advanced AI systems. The administration has also favored a voluntary approach to managing risks, as outlined in its push for AI companies to manage safety threats themselves.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Sept. 25 to establish a bilateral communication channel for artificial-intelligence incidents and a formal U.S.-China Super Intelligence Dialogue. The dialogue addresses AI risks and benefits, while the separate channel covers related incidents.

The next U.S.-China super-intelligence exchange is expected by November 2026. Neither country committed to reducing the pace of AI development under the arrangement.