Forget bureaucratic guardrails; according to Donald Trump, the real metric of AI safety is his IQ. On September 14th, the president responded to calls for greater governmental oversight of AI on Truth Social, stating that the only form of oversight needed is “a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the U.S.A. has that, in spades!” He argued that the United States already has the authority it needs and that imposing further restrictions would allow China to overtake American technology in what he calls “The AI Race.”
His striking response points to a larger question that extends further than this topic area: should laws and institutions typically used to manage new frontiers be substituted for one man’s judgment? Fortunately, there are centuries of precedent to answer it. If trusting that the United States president was intelligent were sufficient to protect the citizens of America, there would be no Constitution, Bill of Rights, checks and balances, Supreme Court, or bureaucracy.
The importance of guardrails
These safeguards exist, not because every president is incompetent or malicious, but because no president can remain immune to personal interests, mistakes, or political pressures. James Madison said it best, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” Government exists because we cannot trust one person to make the right decision for hundreds of millions of people; the consequences of getting it wrong are too dire.
AI is not simply a new product that can be disposed of once it no longer suits; its development has already caused extensive effects on the environment, political landscape, and personal safety. Ultimately putting everyone at risk, whether you use it or not. It places pressure on energy grids and local resources, exacerbating pollution and climate change. Not to mention the personal safety threats it poses with deepfakes, dramatically increasing the risk of fraud and sexually exploitative material. Without safeguards, no one is safe: not the planet, not children, and not you.
The bureaucracy exists for a reason
Not one of these problems can be solved by a single man’s “intelligence,” even if he is the president. No one person can monitor every data center or algorithm, which is why the bureaucracy exists, and why sets of laws like the Constitution are created. This can be seen in nearly every corporate and political sphere. The field of medicine doesn’t rely on doctors knowing everything, just like aviation doesn’t rely on pilots having perfect judgment. These problems require rules, institutions, and enforcement that cannot be provided by the president alone.
In 2029, Donald Trump will leave office, and AI will remain. Despite the absurd notion that he alone can control the advancements of AI, what will happen when his term ends? The fact that he is not only willing but pushing to leave such a threat to the American people unrestrained is concerning, to say the least. Just like the protections put in place by the Founding Fathers continue to define our government, the safeguards we enact now will shape the future of generations to come.