Obama backs slower AI development, urges public debate as Trump rejects ‘guardrails’

Former US President Barack Obama has called for a slower pace of artificial intelligence development and greater public involvement in decisions over how the technology should evolve, as a growing divide emerges between AI industry leaders and the Trump administration over regulation and safeguards.

Obama said on social media platform X that he was encouraged by leaders of major “frontier” AI companies recognising the need to slow development.