Obama Joins Calls for AI Regulation: “It Could Be Dangerous If We Cannot Control It”

[Financial News] As calls to slow the pace of AI development have emerged one after another among artificial intelligence (AI) experts, former U.S. President Barack Obama has joined the debate, saying, "Artificial intelligence (AI) could become dangerous if we cannot properly control it."
According to The New York Times (NYT) on the 13th local time, former President Barack Obama made the remarks at a private Democratic fundraising event in Manhattan on the 10th and urged Democrats to make the response to AI a major political issue.
According to excerpts from remarks provided by former President Barack Obama's team, he told House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, "If you become speaker of the House, I strongly urge you to ensure that the Democratic Party establishes a framework for an open discussion."
However, former President Barack Obama said he was neither an accelerationist who believes AI development should proceed as quickly as possible nor a pessimist who believes AI will cause a catastrophe. He added, "If we manage it properly, it will clearly be a beneficial technology."
NYT reported that, as President Donald Trump has played down concerns about the dangers of AI, some Democrats view AI as an issue that could distinguish them from Republicans in this year's midterm elections.
President Donald Trump also lashed out that day over concerns about AI risks, saying, "In my view, there are too many negative forces highlighting things that should not be highlighted."


As political differences over AI become clearer and voters' anxiety about the technology grows, AI is emerging as a major election issue.
Former President Barack Obama stressed that AI should be made a "key issue" in the 2028 presidential election as well, and that Democrats should present a "very clear plan" to address safety and its economic impact.
In fact, figures being mentioned as potential Democratic presidential contenders have successively called for the need to regulate AI.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Democrats "must address the AI issue head-on."
He continued, "We need safeguards. We need rules, and we need limits. AI that operates beyond our control needs a forced shutdown mechanism—a kill switch."
Another potential presidential contender, Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania, said on X, formerly Twitter, that "the time has long passed for the federal government to step up, take this issue seriously, and establish guardrails at home and abroad."
Democratic leaders also appear to be accelerating their response to AI.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on ABC's "This Week" that "we need to act urgently to address the challenges posed by AI," adding, "We need to slow the pace of development so that we can protect the American people and ensure that AI develops safely."
Democratic House members are scheduled to hold a caucus meeting on the morning of the 15th to discuss a response to AI. Hakeem Jeffries said the AI response would be the meeting's "top priority."

[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, international affairs specialist Reporter