Trump backs 'morally binding' AI self-policing deal with leading tech companies

Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind a voluntary agreement with major technology companies to regulate the development of artificial intelligence, rejecting calls from some quarters for binding statutory guardrails. The accord, which Trump described as "morally binding," commits participating firms to internal controls, independent assessments and board-level oversight, though it stops well short of legal enforceability.

The agreement was reached at a White House summit on frontier AI, convened as pressure has grown from technology executives and experts alike for clearer rules governing the rapidly advancing field. Trump used the meeting to signal that he favours industry self-discipline over government-imposed regulation, a stance that puts him at odds with those arguing that voluntary measures are insufficient to manage the risks posed by the technology.

The summit also produced a lighter moment when Trump referred to Google chief executive Sundar Pichai as a "monster" while addressing reporters. Pichai responded with a quip, saying he hoped the label would become a better tagline than being known simply as a monster. The exchange drew laughter from those present.

Critics of the voluntary approach argue that without legal teeth the accord offers little assurance that companies will follow through on their commitments, particularly as competitive pressure to deploy AI systems intensifies across the industry.