What We Need to Know: AI Fights, Harris Security Scare, and Shelton’s Near-History at the US Open

Sybil Wilkes is back with What We Need To Know, from AI policy battles in Washington to a historic moment on the tennis court, breaking down the stories that matter most, and what they mean for our communities.

Trump Defends AI Industry, Dismisses Federal Safety Rules

President Trump is standing firmly behind the artificial intelligence industry, brushing off growing calls for federal safety regulation. In a social media post this morning, the president argued that the only guardrail AI truly needs is “a smart executive leader,” while alleging a conspiracy against data centers that he says ultimately benefits China. His stance clashes with warnings from powerful voices. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have raised alarms, joining safety researchers who caution that unregulated superintelligence could pose an existential risk by the end of this decade. As AI shapes jobs, education, and daily life, this debate carries real weight for families and workers everywhere.