President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of artificial intelligence leaders who are calling for slower AI development, claiming on Monday that a “sick conspiracy” is targeting both AI technology and the data centers that support it.
His comments came as debate intensified over the speed of AI development, safety risks and the enormous investment required to build next-generation computing infrastructure.
Anthropic CEO Calls for Slower AI Development
The latest controversy follows comments from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who urged AI companies to consider slowing the pace at which advanced models are developed and deployed.
Amodei argued that a slower approach could give researchers, regulators and governments more time to address potential risks.
In a recent essay, he said rapid AI progress is likely to continue, but warned that the industry should use the available time carefully.
Anthropic Raises Concerns Over AI Misuse
Amodei’s comments followed disclosures from Anthropic that its Claude AI models had been used by some actors for harmful purposes, including fraud and work related to weapons development.
He also highlighted concerns about AI systems becoming increasingly capable of improving their own performance.
That possibility has added to long-running fears that highly advanced AI models could eventually become more difficult for humans to control.
Calls Grow for Independent AI Oversight
Amodei proposed creating independent auditing systems to monitor safety practices at major AI laboratories.
He also suggested that regulators should allow AI companies to coordinate on safety standards without immediately raising competition concerns.
The goal, according to his proposal, would be to improve cooperation across the industry while reducing the risks associated with rapidly advancing AI systems.
Major AI Leaders Back Safety Concerns
Investors also paid close attention to similar concerns raised by other prominent technology executives.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, xAI founder Elon Musk and Google DeepMind Chair Demis Hassabis have all supported stronger attention to AI safety in different forms.
Market participants interpreted the growing focus on safety as a possible signal that the current AI investment boom could face greater regulatory or development constraints.
That would be important for technology companies spending heavily on data centers, chips and other AI infrastructure.
Critics Accuse AI Leaders of Exaggerating Risks
Amodei’s position has also faced criticism.
Some opponents argue that AI companies may be overstating potential dangers in ways that could slow competitors and protect the market position of established industry leaders.
The debate has therefore become increasingly divided between those calling for stronger safeguards and those warning that excessive regulation could weaken innovation.
Trump Rejects Calls for Stronger AI Guardrails
Trump has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of efforts to place additional restrictions on AI development.
He argued that the industry does not need extensive new controls and suggested that strong political leadership should provide the necessary oversight.
Trump also criticized Amodei directly, questioning his position on AI safety and portraying the debate as part of a broader effort to slow technological development.
Trump Claims a “Sick Conspiracy” Against AI
In his social media comments, Trump said there was a “sick conspiracy” targeting artificial intelligence and the data centers that power the technology.
He did not provide detailed evidence for the allegation or explain which groups he believed were involved.
However, he linked the issue to U.S. competitiveness and repeated his view that the country must remain ahead of China in the global AI race.
U.S.-China AI Competition Remains a Key Issue
Trump has repeatedly emphasized the strategic importance of artificial intelligence.
The United States and China are competing heavily in AI research, semiconductors, cloud computing and data center infrastructure.
As a result, restrictions that could slow U.S. AI development have become an increasingly sensitive political issue.
Supporters of faster development argue that maintaining technological leadership is essential for economic growth and national security.
AI Concerns Weigh on Technology Stocks
The debate also affected investor sentiment at the start of the trading week.
Shares of Nvidia fell to their lowest level in nearly three weeks, while Amazon also moved lower.
Both companies are heavily exposed to the AI investment cycle.
The weakness contributed to pressure on the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite as investors considered whether tougher safety measures or slower AI development could affect future spending.
AI Regulation Debate Intensifies
The dispute highlights the growing tension between rapid AI innovation and concerns over safety, regulation and infrastructure expansion.
Technology companies continue to invest billions of dollars in advanced chips, cloud computing and data centers.
At the same time, governments and industry leaders are debating how quickly AI should advance and what safeguards should be introduced.
Trump’s latest comments add a political dimension to that debate as the United States seeks to maintain its leadership in artificial intelligence.
