Donald Trump Says AI is “Dangerous” and “Scary”

Trump's Concerns

Donald Trump has recently expressed significant concerns about AI, labeling it as potentially the "most dangerous thing out there" due to its ability to create deepfakes and misinformation. He shared an experience where a deepfake of him was used to falsely endorse a product, highlighting the technology's potential to manipulate reality in ways that even experts struggle to discern 1. This incident underscores the urgency he feels for addressing AI's security implications, as he stated, "Something has to be done about this, and it has to be done fast."

The technology is so good and it's so powerful that what you say at an interview with you almost doesn't matter anymore. They can change things around and nobody can tell the difference.

--- Donald Trump

Trump's comments have propelled AI into the national spotlight as a critical issue for future presidential agendas, especially given the lack of consensus on how to manage these challenges 1.

   

Election Impact

AI's role in the 2024 election is becoming increasingly significant, with deepfakes and misinformation emerging as key concerns. Nathaniel Whittemore notes that AI has transitioned from a theoretical issue to a tangible threat, as evidenced by incidents like the Biden AI robocall in New Hampshire 1. This shift has made AI a bipartisan issue, similar to the early days of cryptocurrency discussions, and has led to a surge in AI lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C.

AI has broken onto the national agenda as a potential election issue.

--- Nathaniel Whittemore

With AI lobbying increasing by 185% between 2022 and 2023, companies are eager to influence the regulatory landscape, especially in the absence of a clear partisan policy direction 1.