President Donald Trump said a jail warning changed the behavior of an unnamed leader at a major artificial intelligence company, offering the unverified account as an example of how law enforcement could address AI risks.
In a CBS “60 Minutes” interview published Nov. 8, Trump said someone was reported to “us” for “doing something bad with AI.” He said “we” called the person with a warning: “Get ready to go to jail.” Trump said the person then changed their behavior.
Asked if the person was a leader at a major AI company, Trump replied, “One of the big ones.” He did not name the person or company, describe the reported behavior, or say who placed the call or when it happened.
The warning and the claimed change in behavior remain unverified. The interview identified no investigation or enforcement outcome.
Trump said he doubted the reported behavior was malicious, though he acknowledged it might have been. He cited the episode while arguing that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) could manage AI risks.
On Nov. 5, the DOJ announced its Super Intelligence (SI) Task Force. The department said the unit would address unlawful uses of SI, including fraud by individuals or companies. Its announcement did not link the task force to Trump’s account.
The DOJ also announced an indictment that day in a separate case involving three foreign nationals. It alleged they used SI to impersonate executives and lawyers in a scheme that cost companies more than $129 million between 2024 and 2026. The department did not connect that case to Trump’s account.
Trump also said he would accept AI safeguards if they did not put the United States behind China.
