From CNBC · Kevin Breuninger · · 1m 40s
Pentagon CTO opposes government stakes in AI firms
Trump's top tech official says the U.S. shouldn't nationalize AI companies or pile on new regulations.
In brief
Trump's top tech official says the U.S. shouldn't nationalize AI companies or pile on new regulations. The Pentagon's chief technology officer is pushing back against government ownership of AI companies, arguing that existing laws are sufficient and that voluntary industry safeguards are preferable to new regulation…
Pentagon CTO rejects AI nationalization
Emil Michael, the Department of Defense chief technology officer, said the Trump administration shouldn't take government stakes in AI companies. He told CNBC the U.S. should avoid getting "in the middle" of the industry.
“We don't want government to get in the middle.”
Trump admin already owns stakes elsewhere
Despite opposing AI nationalization, Trump's administration has taken a 10% stake in Intel and a golden share in U.S. Steel, now owned by Nippon Steel. Michael argues AI companies are different because they're among the world's largest.
Michael opposes new AI regulation
Michael signaled opposition to ramping up government oversight of AI companies, even as industry leaders like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have warned the sector should slow development to mitigate risks.
Existing laws are sufficient, he argues
Michael acknowledged the recent Hugging Face AI hack was concerning but questioned what new regulation could prevent it. He noted the Federal Trade Commission already has "a ton of laws on the book."
“I don't know what kind of regulation would stop that from happening.”
Voluntary safeguards over mandates
Michael suggested AI developers could voluntarily pause certain work until they ensure safety. He accused those pushing for regulation of running a "coordinated campaign" to benefit incumbent companies.
Trump admin backs rapid AI growth
The Trump administration strongly supports fast AI and data center expansion to compete with China. Trump has dismissed calls for an AI slowdown as a "hoax" and "scam."
What matters most
The Pentagon's chief technology officer is pushing back against government ownership of AI companies, arguing that existing laws are sufficient and that voluntary industry safeguards are preferable to new regulation.
