Trump, Lawmakers Clash on AI Safety

Insight & analysis on the White House and Capitol Hill.

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US midterm elections were already shaping up to be a key risk for AI-related stocks amid a backlash against data centers. But with a growing number of lawmakers from both parties sounding the alarm on the need for AI safety regulations, the stakes have only gotten higher.

Optimism about AI has powered the stock-market rally for the better part of four years amid soaring spending on computing infrastructure. That trade, however, is on shaky ground after Anthropic PBC and OpenAI both pledged to slow development of their most advanced models following a series of warnings from within the industry about its ability to control the technology.

The Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index, better known as the SOX, tumbled nearly 6% on Monday, its worst day in more than two months. Former President Barack Obama called for AI policy to be “at the center of our public debate,” in a statement Monday evening. Meanwhile, senators including John Thune, Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar have all proposed a range of policy measures aimed at addressing AI safety concerns.

Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with:

• Bloomberg Senior Editor for Technology and Strategic Industries Michael Shepard.
• Stonecourt Capital Partner Rick Davis and Harvard Kennedy School Ash Center Visiting Democracy Fellow Jeanne Sheehan Zaino.

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