Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has rejected proposals to slow the pace of artificial intelligence (AI) development.

He has warned that slowing the pace of AI development could risk the US losing its edge over China.

Speaking to reporters, Mike Johnson said that the United States cannot ban the development of AI, because in this case, the United States will lose its advantage over China and it will have serious implications for the national security of every American family.

He argued that AI companies should be allowed to largely self-manage their affairs.

The US speaker said AI companies can make their own rules, the government doesn’t need to tell them to slow down, if they want to slow down they can.

Mike Johnson’s comments come at a time when calls to limit AI are gaining momentum in various quarters of the political spectrum, due to concerns about the technology’s potential impact on jobs, energy costs and public safety.

Earlier, US Senator Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon, the former adviser to the US President and a prominent voice of the right wing, called for stricter AI supervision while attending an event in Washington yesterday.