House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to support an emergency halt on AI development, highlighting the risk of allowing China to gain an advantage. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Johnson emphasized the need for American innovation to continue without interruptions.
“We have to resist Congress jumping in and imposing some sort of emergency moratorium,” Johnson stated. He proposed a gathering of leaders from technology platforms with policymakers to find a proper balance. “We cannot put a moratorium on this because China will overlap us,” he added.
Republican National Committee member and Humans First chairwoman Amy Kremer emphasized the importance of safeguards that do not compromise America’s tech leadership. “We need guardrails that protect Americans while allowing American innovation to lead the world,” Kremer mentioned. Her remarks included a focus on protecting children, workers, and national security while ensuring the U.S. maintains an edge over China.
Kremer also highlighted the importance of state and local governance over AI infrastructure, saying, “Washington should not strip states and local communities of their authority.” The Humans First movement opposes blanket bans on data centers, supporting local control and transparency in data center projects.
The AI debate gained momentum when Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei suggested slowing AI model development, a call supported by xAI founder Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. AI’s potential misuse, such as in scams with false identities, raises public concern.
Amodei argued for a reduced pace in enhancing AI models. The idea is to use the gained time wisely. President Donald Trump dismissed broader slowdowns, emphasizing America’s leading position compared to China.
Concerns about AI infrastructure continue, with a July Fox News poll showing 70% of voters opposing local AI data center construction. The Trump administration’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge aims to ensure AI-related costs are not transferred to consumers.
Kremer urged broader consumer protection beyond energy pricing. “Americans shouldn’t be forced to subsidize Big Tech through higher electricity bills, tax giveaways, eminent domain or the loss of productive farmland,” she asserted.
Johnson proposed organizing discussions at the White House between top AI executives and policymakers. “They probably should be summoned together at the White House,” Johnson suggested, pushing for thorough deliberation on competing security and safety issues.
For further information, CJ Womack, associate editor at Fox News and a Long Beach State University alumnus, can be contacted at [email protected].