Blanche questions timing of AI safety debate ahead of midterms

US Attorney General Todd Blanche has questioned the timing of growing calls for tighter controls on artificial intelligence, arguing that discussions about AI safety ahead of the US midterm elections could be intended to influence voters.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Blanche was asked about the US government's approach to AI and calls for technology companies to slow the pace of development.

Blanche said the timing of those calls raised concerns about their potential political impact.

He said the Department of Justice would take action where laws had been broken, but argued that its role was to enforce the law rather than regulate the technology industry.

"I do not think it is the job of the Department of Justice to regulate; we are prosecutors, not regulators," Blanche said.

He also defended the broader benefits of artificial intelligence, describing the technology as "extraordinarily beneficial to our society" and pointing to the range of work being carried out using AI.

Blanche questioned why concerns about AI development were becoming more prominent as the midterm elections approached.

He also warned that the United States could not afford to fall behind China in the global race to develop artificial intelligence.

"We can't lose the AI race to China," Blanche said, arguing that maintaining US leadership in the technology sector remained important.

The comments come amid increasing debate in the United States over the pace of AI development, the potential risks posed by increasingly powerful systems and whether governments should introduce additional safeguards.

Technology companies and policymakers remain divided over how much regulation is appropriate, with supporters of tighter controls arguing that safety measures are needed to address potential risks, while others warn that excessive regulation could undermine innovation and US competitiveness.

Blanche's comments reinforce the Trump administration's position that the United States should continue advancing AI development while enforcing existing laws rather than relying on the Department of Justice to serve as a technology regulator.