Should We Slow Down AI Development?

A few days ago, former President Obama said Democrats should use the idea of strict AI regulation in their fall campaigns. It's becoming a critical issue in the fall of 2026, and many AI employees and leaders appear to agree we need to pause development to ensure we haven't reached the point of no return. Recently, AI agents have carried out tasks without much human interaction and some of these agents have indeed escaped controlled testing, by breaking into systems online. Whether the Democrats take Obama's advice about the upcoming election is anyone's guess. Regardless, this has to be taken seriously by the Trump administration and Congress.

On the data center issue, both Republicans and Democrats agree that most people do not want data centers in or near their town. So, opposing this technology isn't a wedge issue, since most people are on the same page. In a divisive nation, the data center issue seems to unite both parties.

Moving on to what Trump recently posted: that these warnings about AI are all a "hoax," and he essentially said that "Impeachment Hoax #1" and "Impeachment Hoax #2" mean that America has to endure the foul play and illegal conduct by destructionists and deviants. It appears he's going back to his usual playbook by name-calling to denigrate anyone who doesn't agree with him.

He goes on to say AI and data centers will be "the Greatest Economic Engine in History, bigger than Oil, Gold, Diamonds or even the Internet." At age 80 and self-absorbed, I think Trump sees AI technology only as something that benefits him and his administration. If he so pro data center, perhaps he will volunteer to build one near his mansion in Mar A Lago. He's also concerned about how much money he can make through the stock market with AI technology. He's not thinking critically here; it seems Trump has not developed this kind of thinking. Indeed, it's all about how he can benefit from this newer technology. It's obvious he doesn't care what happens in five years; it's about looking good as president and how he can "cash in" on artificial technology.

In another recent post, Trump said, "The people that say AI is going to destroy the World, and that Data Centers are bad for your neighborhood, are the same people that said, just a short time ago, that the World would be extinguished by 'Climate Change.'" Trump suggested that the climate change hoax didn't work out for them, so these crazy individuals are looking for something else to rail about. He also thinks people who claim climate change is real are revolutionaries, those just supporting an evil cause. I've read plenty of articles about climate change and I have not once seen the word "evil" when talking about this issue. In my mind, even if there's a slim chance it's not real, what would our country lose by "hedging our bets" and develop new renewable technology just in case? Why not make it federal policy to aggressively switch to renewable energy and reduce our dependency on fossil fuels? (Does it have something to do with all the dark money being funneled by the oil industry to stop such a sensible and logical approach.) If we pumped the same amount of money into sophisticated renewable energy as we do for AI, the positive results would be extraordinary. Trump wants more manufacturing done in America, what better way than build renewable materials here.

My first question: what data does Trump have to suggest that the issue of climate change is a hoax? Does he read the science showing that humans cause climate change? Does he not realize there are eight billion people in the world, and that this has made the issue more dire over time? Similar to AI technology not being regulated, what does he have to lose with only slightly more than two years left in his administration?  

I also question his claim that those who say climate change is real are the same people who want to pause AI to determine how damaging it could be to civilization moving forward. I beg to differ. Many centrists and democrats were the primary proponents of climate change; fewer republicans felt the same way. However, with the idea of slowing down AI to ensure it doesn't threaten civilization, citizens and politicians on both sides of the aisle want to regulate AI carefully moving forward. In other words, those concerned about AI span both sides of the aisle. Indeed, this isn't a partisan issue, but frankly, a human one.

Should We Slow Down AI Development?