US Attorney General: Current AI Controversy is an Attempt to Influence Midterm Elections

▲ US Attorney General Todd Blanche

US Attorney General Todd Blanche said on the 15th (local time), regarding the fierce controversy over artificial intelligence (AI) with the US midterm elections in November fast approaching, "It goes without saying that this is merely an attempt to influence the midterm elections."

During a White House briefing, Blanche stated, "Democratic senators who were strangely silent for months are suddenly rushing to microphones to talk about AI," making his remarks.

He added, "This should not guide the decisions we make regarding AI. We cannot afford to lose the AI race against China."

Blanche also said, "If anyone violates criminal law in connection with AI, we will investigate it," adding, "There are a significant number of cases where individuals have been prosecuted for AI-related offenses."

He further noted, "We are prosecutors, not regulators. Therefore, we will not regulate AI," and added, "AI is immensely beneficial to our society. There are many wonderful things that AI does, and conveniently it became the center of controversy this week. I completely agree with what the President mentioned."

Regarding whether China's theft of US AI technology should be raised as an agenda item at the upcoming US-China summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the 24th, Blanche said, "I don't think it's fair to blame the entire country of China," while also stating, "There are certainly malicious actors like that in China, and we will definitely track them down."

In response to a question about whether President Trump's fierce criticism of the Supreme Court's decision the previous day blocking the Trump administration's attempt to restrict mail-in voting infringes on the independence of the Supreme Court, Blanche defended the President, saying, "Not at all. The President needs to communicate with the American people about cases of special importance to him, and this case is precisely one of those instances."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)

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