AI leaders Clash Over Regulation and impact at WIRED’s AI Power Summit
NEW YORK – A diverse group of leaders from technology, politics, and media convened at WIRED’s AI Power Summit in New York City on Monday to grapple with the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its sweeping impact across multiple sectors. Discussions revealed starkly contrasting viewpoints on the need for regulation, the potential for economic benefit, and the risks facing industries like journalism.
The summit, featuring speakers including US Senator Richard Blumenthal, former Trump governance officials, and Anna Wintour, Chief Content Officer of Condé nast, underscored the widespread disruption – and anxiety - AI is generating. Wintour, also Global Editorial director of Vogue, acknowledged the dual nature of the technology, stating, ”We worry about it replacing our work, and the work of those we write about.”
senator Blumenthal (D-CT) urged proactive policymaking, drawing parallels to the challenges posed by social media. He emphasized the need to establish “guardrails around copyright infringement and other key issues” before AI inflicts important damage, specifically citing concerns about the impact on journalism. He described the current situation as a “perfect storm engulfing journalism” during a conversation with WIRED Global Editorial Director Katie drummond.
However, perspectives diverged on the appropriate regulatory approach. Dean Ball, a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and a key architect of the Trump administration’s AI Action Plan, vigorously defended the plan as a pioneering effort in AI risk management. He asserted that the blueprint introduced “more rules around AI risks than any other government has produced.”
Industry representatives offered a more optimistic outlook, predicting AI will drive considerable economic growth and dismissing concerns about unchecked deployment. The summit highlighted a fundamental tension between those advocating for preemptive regulation and those emphasizing the potential benefits of innovation.
A livestream of the full event is available here.