US First Lady Melania Trump has warned that artificial intelligence and robotics are no longer distant technologies but a reality shaping everyday life, urging careful guidance to avoid potentially dangerous consequences.
Speaking at a White House event to launch the Presidential AI Challenge, Trump told an audience of tech executives, educators, and policymakers: “Cars now steer themselves… robots hold steady hands in the operating room… drones are defining the future of war.”
“The robots are here. Our future is no longer science fiction.”
Her comments came as part of a wider initiative to bring artificial intelligence into US classrooms, with major commitments announced by IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, and Code.org to expand AI training and educational tools.
A message of caution
While praising AI as “the greatest engine of progress in the history of the United States”, Trump also injected a note of caution, comparing the technology to children who must be “empowered, but with watchful guidance”.
The First Lady’s remarks echoed concerns that unchecked deployment of AI could present risks ranging from job displacement to national security and youth mental health, even as the administration promotes AI adoption as central to economic competitiveness.
Corporate commitments
At the event, IBM pledged to train two million US workers in AI, while Code.org announced plans to reach 25 million students with AI-focused curricula. Microsoft and Amazon also unveiled new programs aimed at embedding AI education in K-12 schools.
The Presidential AI Challenge, according to the White House, is intended to accelerate AI literacy across the nation, preparing the next generation for a workforce increasingly shaped by automation and machine learning.
Criticism of the initiative
Despite the ambitious pledges, critics noted the absence of discussion about risks to children, particularly around AI’s role in mental health and online safety.
Watchdog groups accused the administration of staging an event that primarily showcased the interests of large technology companies while skirting more difficult debates about regulation and accountability.
The political dimension
Trump’s framing of AI as both a source of wonder and a potential threat adds to the administration’s broader messaging on technology.
Her phrase, “The robots are here”, is likely to resonate as both a declaration of technological progress and a warning that the nation must adapt quickly and responsibly to the challenges it brings.
