OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs urge UN AI cooperation amid Trump pushback

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei made a joint appeal for international AI coordination at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, positioning themselves at odds with the Trump administration's approach to artificial intelligence governance.

The two executives, who lead competing AI labs, told the Security Council that managing AI risks requires countries to collaborate despite geopolitical tensions. Altman invoked historical precedent, noting that nations have previously united around powerful new technologies even when they compete or disagree on other matters.

Their remarks came one day after President Donald Trump addressed the UN General Assembly and rejected what he called a "globalist scheme" to control AI development. Trump stated he would not "stifle growth of something that will be bigger than the industrial revolution," signaling his administration's intent to encourage AI advancement rather than constrain it.

Why it matters

The contrast between Silicon Valley's leading AI developers and the White House reveals a fundamental tension in technology policy. While Altman and Amodei advocate for coordinated safety measures—potentially including development slowdowns—the administration is prioritizing rapid advancement. This divergence could shape whether international AI governance frameworks gain traction or fragment along national lines, with significant implications for how the technology evolves and who sets its guardrails.

A rare alignment between rivals

The UN appearance followed an unusual public agreement between the two CEOs earlier this month. Amodei published a proposal to slow AI development pace, and Altman—typically focused on accelerating progress—publicly endorsed the idea. Both companies have faced scrutiny from industry researchers who warn their models pose growing catastrophic risks.

According to CNBC, which first reported the UN addresses, the executives' safety positions have raised questions about practical implementation, particularly as both OpenAI and Anthropic prepare for anticipated initial public offerings. Neither company has disclosed IPO timing.

The regulatory divide

The split between the CEOs' call for international cooperation and Trump's rejection of global AI control mechanisms highlights competing visions for the technology's future. Altman framed coordination as serving "shared interests and the collective good," while Trump characterized similar efforts as constraining American innovation.

The debate extends beyond rhetoric to concrete policy questions: whether AI development should be subject to international standards, how to balance safety concerns against competitive pressures, and whether voluntary industry commitments can substitute for formal regulation.

Details of the executives' Security Council testimony and Trump's UN remarks were first reported by CNBC.