Trump announces ethics agreement with AI companies at White House

US President Donald Trump announced an ethical agreement with major artificial intelligence companies at the White House, aimed at encouraging the industry to regulate itself as pressure mounts for stricter oversight legislation.

The announcement brings together some of the leading firms developing AI technology, which have faced growing calls from lawmakers, advocacy groups and international bodies to accept binding rules governing how their systems are built, tested and deployed.

Details of the agreement's specific provisions were not fully outlined in the initial announcement, though the framework is understood to center on voluntary commitments by companies to abide by ethical standards rather than accepting government-imposed regulation.

The move comes amid an intensifying debate in Washington and other capitals over how to manage the rapid growth of artificial intelligence, with critics warning that self-regulation may not go far enough to address risks such as misinformation, job displacement and safety concerns tied to increasingly powerful AI systems.

Supporters of a lighter-touch approach argue that excessive regulation could slow innovation and cede ground to international competitors, a position that has found favor within the current administration's broader technology policy.

The White House event underscores the administration's preference for industry-led frameworks over sweeping federal mandates, a stance that contrasts with approaches taken by some other governments that have moved toward more prescriptive AI rules.

The agreement is likely to draw scrutiny from lawmakers who have pushed for mandatory AI legislation, as well as from advocacy groups who see voluntary pledges as insufficient to hold companies accountable. Further details on which companies signed on, and what specific commitments the agreement entails, are expected to emerge in the coming days.