House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called for carefully designed artificial intelligence (AI) guardrails, saying AI safety rules must address potential harms without undermining U.S. innovation or its technological edge over China.
Johnson Calls for AI Safety Guardrails
On Sunday, in a post on X, Johnson pointed to Congress’ work on AI, including the bipartisan task force he established after becoming speaker.
"We all have a sense of urgency to create guardrails around the technology," he said.
He said the rules must prevent harm while protecting American innovation and national security.
"The key is designing the guardrails carefully, in a way that prevents any harm from AI —while also preserving American innovation and our national security by keeping our edge over China and other international competitors," Johnson said.
Johnson called for a meeting in Washington with AI platform providers and experts to discuss the next steps and the responsibilities of companies developing AI.
"I am calling for a meeting in Washington with AI platform providers and key experts to determine the right course forward and discuss the responsibility providers have to ensure the safety of their products," he said.
Debate Over AI Regulation Intensifies
Earlier this month, George Clooney questioned whether lawmakers had the expertise to regulate AI, warning that convincing AI-generated content could make it harder to distinguish facts from fabricated claims.
Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang urged G20 leaders to invest in AI infrastructure, warning that excessive fear and regulation could leave countries behind.
He called for rules targeting actual risks rather than hypothetical harm.
Last month, former White House AI and crypto czar David Sacks warned that voluntary AI safety standards could eventually become mandatory rules that disadvantage open models.
Chamath Palihapitiya cautioned that overly restrictive U.S. regulations could drive investment and capital overseas.
China Competition Shapes AI Debate
Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the U.S. could not afford to slow its AI race with China, calling American leadership critical to national security and the economy.
In August, Elon Musk also identified China as "by far" the strongest AI competitor, echoing his 2011 prediction that China would eventually emerge as a major rival to the U.S. in space technology.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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