The AI Regulation Power Struggle: Tech Giants Turn on Each Other and Trump's 'Vibe-Based' Policy

Overview

The battle over artificial intelligence regulation is far from over and is shifting from "corporate self-discipline" to "infighting among tech giants." Top labs such as Anthropic and OpenAI had briefly called for establishing industry safety frameworks, even seeking government intervention. However, the Trump administration's firm opposition and the resistance of companies like Meta have left this process at a standstill. Current U.S. AI policy shows clear polarization: on one side, tech leaders worry about "existential risk," while on the other, politicians completely deny the need for regulation.

Industry Divide: Self-Regulation Initiatives and Backlash

Earlier this week, top figures in the AI industry appeared to reach a rare consensus. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei proposed a three-step plan, suggesting slowing the pace of AI development by embedding third-party evaluators, coordinating domestic industries, and reaching international agreements. Sam Altman of OpenAI, Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, and even Elon Musk expressed approval.

"People want to know that AI is being developed under safe conditions... government also plays an important role." —— Chris Lehane, Global Affairs Lead at OpenAI

However, this "pro-regulation" stance quickly triggered backlash within the industry. According to The Wall Street Journal, Mark Zuckerberg, Musk, and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang joined forces to kill a proposal to establish an independent industry regulatory body similar to FINRA in the financial sector. Zuckerberg stated clearly that each company has the responsibility to advance model training at the pace it deems necessary, rather than accepting external constraints.

Trump's "Atmosphere Policy"

The Trump administration has dismissed claims of a safety crisis as a "scam." He not only fired or pressured relevant officials but also publicly mocked regulatory rhetoric on social media.

Trump claimed that the only "guardrail" AI needs is a strong and smart (high-IQ) president. At one meeting, he even called Jensen Huang directly, speaking to the audience through the speakerphone: "Robots will not take over the world." He also threatened that the government possesses significant criminal and regulatory power, sufficient to prevent tech companies from doing "bad things," and warned that conspiracy theorists and leakers would face consequences.

This stance stands in stark contrast to his policy six years ago. Nick Reese, former Director of Emerging Technology Policy at the Department of Homeland Security, noted that the Trump administration had signed Executive Order 13960, establishing federal principles for AI use that protect privacy and civil rights. Reese argued that Trump's current anti-regulation rhetoric is confusing because AI safety does not depend solely on the wisdom of one elected official.

Regulatory Window and Future Trajectory

Although government intervention currently appears to be an impossible task, OpenAI is not giving up. Chris Lehane emphasized that bipartisan support in Congress for mandatory national frontier AI safety standards is growing, and the policy window remains open.

An anonymous venture capitalist pointed out that this parallels the historical trajectory of early developments in electricity, automobiles, and aviation: after an initial phase of disorder, industries must ultimately establish safety standards together to enable broader acceptance of the technology. However, the current regulatory environment, driven by "atmosphere" rather than consistent policy, makes the future direction of the AI industry full of uncertainty.