Trump Says AI Could Be 'Bigger Than the Internet' as He Pushes Light-Touch Regulation

In brief

• President Donald Trump said artificial intelligence could be “bigger than the internet, bigger than anything anyone’s seen.”
• Trump said AI regulation should not stifle the industry as the U.S. competes with China.
• The president defended AI data centers amid growing opposition to their electricity use and impact on local communities.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that artificial intelligence could become “bigger than the internet,” as he called for regulation that does not slow the industry and defended the rapid buildout of data centers and power plants across the United States.

Trump’s remarks come as his administration pushes to maintain the U.S. lead over China by accelerating AI infrastructure projects while resisting regulations it says could slow development.

“We want to regulate, but we want to have regulation where they can continue to lead,” Trump said during a White House gathering with crypto executives and financial regulators ahead of the CFTC’s first Innovation Advisory Committee meeting. “That regulation is not going to stifle a very important industry. I think maybe bigger than the internet, bigger than anything anyone’s seen.”

Trump said China remains the closest U.S. competitor in AI and said the technology would likely be discussed when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits on September 24.