Bill Gates argued on NBC that the US must adopt government-led legislation to manage artificial intelligence because industry self-regulation is not enough. He dismissed President Donald Trump's characterization of AI safeguards as a "hoax," stating that broader protections are necessary to prevent catastrophic outcomes without significantly slowing the pace of technological development.

The push for regulation contrasts with Trump's hands-off approach and warnings that strict rules could benefit China in the AI race. Gates maintains that safeguards will not hinder US competitiveness but cautioned that establishing a global safety framework may prove more difficult than the nuclear arms agreements negotiated during the Cold War.