Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Faces Questions on AI Regulations
On Tuesday, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent appeared before the House Financial Services Committee, where lawmakers pressed him on various issues, including rising costs, the ongoing conflict in Iran, and the administration’s regulatory stance on artificial intelligence (AI).
When queried about the worries surrounding AI companies, Bessent responded, “They can stop any time they want to.” He also addressed recent warnings from AI industry leaders and noted that the Trump administration had been proactive in assessing AI models for over five months.
Bessent emphasized, “The best way to guarantee safety is that the creators are liable for what they build and generate and put out into the economy.” His remarks come amid a backdrop of increased scrutiny regarding AI technologies.
President Trump has expressed his backing of the AI sector, dismissing concerns about its risks to humanity as a “HOAX.”
Recently, several AI executives have advocated for establishing some form of guidelines for the technology. Dario Amodei from Anthropic shared an essay on X, calling for a measured approach to AI development. Similarly, notable figures like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI CEO Elon Musk supported Amodei’s view.
Adding to the discourse, Jacob Coxon, a former AI developer at both OpenAI and Anthropic, made headlines when he announced his departure from Anthropic. He expressed that these companies are “gambling with our lives” due to the rapid advancements being pursued. His commentary resonated widely, reaching over 171 million impressions on social media.
In a related statement, Amodei outlined a commitment to allowing external evaluators access to their company’s operations as part of a broader three-step plan for responsible progression in AI.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also entered the conversation, revealing plans for a meeting later this month involving Trump and leaders from prominent AI labs. Johnson noted that these companies have the capability to regulate themselves, suggesting that self-policing should be a priority.
