AI safety warnings deepen congressional debate over guardrails

Why lawmakers are split

President Donald Trump’s dismissal of warnings about AI dangers as a “hoax” has sharpened a congressional dispute over safety rules and competition with China.

In interviews with Fox News Digital, lawmakers agreed that AI carries major consequences but differed over how Congress should respond.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said Trump did not understand the issue, though Kaine also cautioned against treating every AI risk as a worst-case scenario. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., criticized Trump’s use of the word “hoax” for views he rejects.

Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., called guardrails reasonable for a technology he described as transformative. He also said the United States should not slow development in a way that allows China to move ahead.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said China would benefit most from a U.S. slowdown and questioned the motives of AI companies seeking government intervention.

What companies and Congress are saying

Leaders at Anthropic, OpenAI and Google have urged a slowdown in AI development because of safety risks. Some Anthropic researchers have warned that the technology’s rapid advance could threaten humanity.

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., said warnings from businesses about their own products attract public attention. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said those warnings should prompt Republicans to join congressional work on guardrails.

Congress is weighing two goals: addressing potential harm from advanced AI and maintaining the country’s technological position against China. The debate has added urgency to bipartisan efforts to introduce legislation governing AI safeguards and the pace of development.