House Speaker Mike Johnson says artificial intelligence companies should take the lead in developing solutions to growing AI safety concerns, even as lawmakers intensify pressure on Congress to establish federal safeguards for increasingly powerful systems.
Johnson said he is open to bringing President Trump, congressional leaders and executives from major AI companies together to work toward an agreement on safety measures. But he stopped short of calling for immediate legislation, saying Congress should act when concrete solutions are ready rather than rushing into rules that could prove ineffective or restrict U.S. technological development.
The debate has escalated rapidly following stark warnings from AI researchers and growing concern among lawmakers about whether advanced systems could eventually operate in dangerous or unpredictable ways. Members of both parties have called for greater federal oversight, with some lawmakers proposing independent evaluations, stronger government supervision and mechanisms that could allow humans to slow or shut down particularly powerful AI systems.
Johnson, however, has rejected calls for a moratorium on advanced AI development. He argues that slowing American companies while China continues developing increasingly capable systems could create a national security disadvantage for the United States. His position highlights the difficult balance Washington now faces: establishing meaningful safeguards without surrendering America’s lead in one of the world’s most consequential technologies.
The pressure is unlikely to disappear. House Democrats are scheduled to discuss AI on Tuesday, while Johnson has indicated that he could bring Congress together to consider legislation if lawmakers and industry leaders develop workable proposals. He has also discussed convening AI companies to seek consensus on safety guardrails.
The Readovia Lens
Washington’s AI debate is shifting from whether safeguards are needed to who should design them and how quickly they should arrive. Johnson’s preference for an industry-led approach places enormous responsibility on the companies building the most advanced systems, while leaving Congress with the challenge of deciding when voluntary safeguards are no longer enough.
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