Mark Zuckerberg Opposes Proposed National AI Regulator

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told President Donald Trump during a phone call the week of August 17 that a proposed national AI regulator is a flawed idea. The proposal, championed by Google DeepMind scientist Demis Hassabis and some White House officials, suggests creating an independent organization modeled after the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to review and test advanced AI models for risks before deployment.

Zuckerberg argued that policies slowing model releases could jeopardize American leadership over China. While he did not ask Trump to change his position, he suggested that any appointees to such a body should reflect the president's light-touch approach to AI.

The White House is currently weighing the regulator against a voluntary industry group modeled on the Motion Picture Association, a path proposed by advisor David Sacks. The administration continues to consider both options as it attempts to balance innovation and security in its AI policymaking.