Obama Rarely Intervenes in the AI Regulation Debate, Urging the U.S. to Pass Proactive Legislation to Avoid “Potential Catastrophe”
Former U.S. President Barack Obama said he supports the creation of federal laws and regulations to establish standards for AI safety, warning that if mishandled, the technology could lead to a “potential catastrophe.” In a statement Monday, Obama said AI policy “should be at the center of public debate,” adding that policymakers in Washington must “take proactive action,” develop relevant plans “to address serious safety concerns, anticipate the impact of AI on jobs and the next generation, and ensure that the benefits brought by AI are broadly shared.”
The former president criticized the approach to AI regulation advocated by President Donald Trump, saying it is one of laissez-faire. While he did not name his successor directly, he said that “voluntary standards set by a handful of technology companies are not enough.”
An executive order signed by Trump in June this year created a voluntary participation framework that allows AI developers to share frontier models with the government in advance so potential safety risks can be assessed.
Obama said: “Given what we know about technology, we can’t put AI back in the box. But we can decide together how it should be developed, how it should be used—not sit back and let AI and its consequences come crashing down on us.”
Obama’s rare public comments are his deepest remarks to date on AI. As leading figures in the industry and members of Congress have increasingly called for slowing the development of frontier models, AI has become a core issue in national discussions in the United States.
With a lack of clear leadership figures within the Democratic Party, many Democrats are still seeking Obama’s advice and guidance on policy and political strategy. By stepping into this debate, Obama is attempting to position the Democrats as the party that supports strengthening AI safety measures, in preparation for the midterm elections in November and the start of the 2028 presidential election cycle.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama said he supports the creation of federal laws and regulations to establish standards for AI safety, warning that if mishandled, the technology could lead to a “potential catastrophe.” In a statement Monday, Obama said AI policy “should be at the center of public debate,” adding that policymakers in Washington must “take proactive action,” develop relevant plans “to address serious safety concerns, anticipate the impact of AI on jobs and the next generation, and ensure that the benefits brought by AI are broadly shared.”
The former president criticized the approach to AI regulation advocated by President Donald Trump, saying it is one of laissez-faire. While he did not name his successor directly, he said that “voluntary standards set by a handful of technology companies are not enough.”
An executive order signed by Trump in June this year created a voluntary participation framework that allows AI developers to share frontier models with the government in advance so potential safety risks can be assessed.
Obama said: “Given what we know about technology, we can’t put AI back in the box. But we can decide together how it should be developed, how it should be used—not sit back and let AI and its consequences come crashing down on us.”
Obama’s rare public comments are his deepest remarks to date on AI. As leading figures in the industry and members of Congress have increasingly called for slowing the development of frontier models, AI has become a core issue in national discussions in the United States.
With a lack of clear leadership figures within the Democratic Party, many Democrats are still seeking Obama’s advice and guidance on policy and political strategy. By stepping into this debate, Obama is attempting to position the Democrats as the party that supports strengthening AI safety measures, in preparation for the midterm elections in November and the start of the 2028 presidential election cycle.
