A sweeping majority of business executives at a Yale Management School gathering dispute the president's claim that artificial intelligence dangers are fabricated, with a live survey revealing 93% of attendees rejecting the notion that AI threats are fictitious.

At an invitation-only Washington summit this week, dozens of America's foremost corporate leaders convened, and the overwhelming sentiment contradicted the administration's position that AI risks are overstated. The instant poll conducted during the Yale Management School event demonstrated that nearly all participating executives considered the characterization of AI's potentially catastrophic dangers as a hoax to be incorrect.

The result comes as a significant rebuke to the president's approach, with Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, the Yale management professor who organized the CEO forum, noting the striking nature of the findings. Executives conveyed to him both during and after the sessions that they desired more comprehensive dialogue on safeguarding measures. The prevailing perspective was that the threats AI poses are genuine and warrant serious attention.

The forum provided a platform for business leaders to exchange viewpoints on the global race for advanced AI capabilities, a critical topic shaping economic and security policy. The president has consistently resisted federal oversight expansion, arguing that regulatory measures would inflict financial damage on the industry. Meanwhile, executives from leading AI firms like Anthropic and OpenAI recently advocated for a more measured development pace to ensure safety protocols keep up with innovation.

Attendees predominantly came from sectors and regions beyond Silicon Valley, including tool manufacturer Snap-on, Micro-Star International, and glass producer Corning, which also received an award during the event. The diverse roster spanned Republican and Democratic business figures, alongside government officials, with former Vice President Mike Pence and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both present. Many executives refrained from public commentary due to concerns about antagonizing the Trump administration, yet the survey format enabled collective expression of their unease.

The White House has not responded to requests for comment. Chris Lyden, CEO of human resources firm Kelly, who attended the Yale gathering, emphasized the need to acknowledge AI's potential downsides while directing governmental and corporate attention toward its impact on employment and American workers. Lyden stressed that a long-overdue national workforce strategy for the AI era is essential, calling for efforts to build trust among U.S. employees and harness AI's capabilities to boost learning, productivity, and output.