AI Singularity might take place under Trump presidency, AI experts are worried

With Donald Trump reclaiming the presidency after his 2024 victory, discussions within the AI community are more intense than ever. The prospect of artificial general intelligence (AGI) emerging during Trump’s second term has sparked a blend of excitement and dread among tech enthusiasts and experts alike.

Despite the President-elect’s summer podcast appearance where he described “super-duper AI” as both “alarming” and “scary” in a rather puzzled tone, many speculate that his administration’s policies could accelerate progress toward artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Trump’s Vice President, JD Vance, and major AI investor Elon Musk are expected to shape the administration’s stance on AI, likely pushing for looser regulations. This scenario raises hopes for some but sparks considerable fear for others.

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One OpenAI staffer, Steven Heidel, mused online that Trump could very well become known as the “AGI president.” Meanwhile, over on Reddit’s r/Singularity forum, users seemed far more anxious. Many voiced concerns about what AGI could mean under the governance of a leader with little technical expertise and a reputation for seeking power and settling scores.  

The forum buzzed with posts expressing alarm at the possibility of AGI surfacing during Trump’s term. One worried user noted that the political circumstances felt like an impending “Apocalypse in giant neon letters.”

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Others highlighted that figures like Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., expected to influence AGI policies, bring their own set of complications. Some argued that this might result in a reckless approach to AI development. One user even stated that they would rather see an uncontrolled AGI than one regulated under Trump’s administration.

Concerns grew further as JD Vance’s potential influence, backed by controversial ideologue Peter Thiel, was discussed. Thiel, known for being wary of government oversight, recently remarked that he feared excessive regulation of AGI more than the technology itself.

Trump’s announcement of plans to scrap outgoing President Joe Biden’s AI restrictions adds another layer of uncertainty. The prospect of unchecked AI development under his administration feels worryingly plausible to some.

Of course, this scenario depends on AGI arriving within the next four years, a timeline even Thiel has been sceptical of, predicting AI dominance might still be decades away. Yet, some believe if AGI does emerge sooner, Trump’s presidency could push the world into a dystopian, rather than utopian, AI future.