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A humanoid robot high-fives a visitor at a technology expo, with speech-bubble graphics reading "Namaste" and "Ciao."

A humanoid robot interacts with visitors at a technology expo, part of the rapid advance in AI that has fueled debate over how the industry should be regulated. Photo: PBS NewsHour

Should AI Companies Be Allowed to 'Self-Regulate'?

October 5, 2026

Should AI Companies Be Allowed to 'Self-Regulate'?

Tech executives met with President Trump as researchers and lawmakers push for stronger AI safeguards. Trump says the U.S. can't afford to slow down and lose its lead over China. Students weigh whether AI companies should regulate themselves.

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Top tech executives met with President Trump on Tuesday to discuss the future of artificial intelligence amid growing concerns over AI models losing control. Researchers and lawmakers are calling for stronger safeguards, but Trump said the technology is transforming the economy and that the U.S. cannot afford to lose its lead over China. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Gary Marcus.

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What do you want to learn more about? You can also make a Google doc copy of these general discussion questions.

Warm-Up Questions

  1. Who met with President Trump recently to discuss AI regulation?
  2. Why does Trump say he doesn't support government regulation of AI companies or models?
  3. How are some warnings about AI threats misguided, according to Gary Marcus?
  4. What are the risks of allowing AI companies to self-regulate, according to Marcus?
  5. When should the U.S. establish independent evaluators of AI tech, according to Marcus

Essential Questions

  • Do you think it's more important to speed the development of AI to stay ahead of China and other competitors, or do you think creating guardrails against the most risky features of AI is more important? Why so?
  • Who do you think is in the best position to establish guidelines for AI development and use?
  • Media literacy: Why do you think Gary Marcus was chosen as the expert for this segment? What is his background, and what perspective do you think he adds?

What Students Can Do

Watch this video of PBS news anchors interviewing former Anthropic employee, Jacob Coxon.

After watching the video, answer these questions:

  1. How do you feel after this interview?
  2. Did you learn anything new? Did you already know or expect certain ideas or themes?
  3. Are there any questions you would have liked to ask Jacob? If so, what?

Join the AI and Education Community!

Join the team from the AI Educator Brain, which includes AFT’s Share My Lesson director Kelly Booz; New York City Public Schools teacher Sari Beth Rosenberg and EdBrAIn, our AI teammate (yes, it named and designed itself!). In this community, we will dissect the pros and cons of AI tools in education. Our mission: to determine how AI can support teaching and learning, and when it might be best to stick with tried-and-true methods.


 

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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.

PBS News Hour Classroom
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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