Vice President JD Vance criticized leading artificial intelligence developers Tuesday for calling on the government to regulate the technology they create, using stark language to push for corporate accountability over expanded federal oversight.

Speaking remotely at the All-In Summit 2026, Vance addressed concerns raised by figures like Anthropic co-founder Dario Amodei, who has advocated for coordinated government controls on advanced AI systems, including international cooperation. Vance questioned the logic of developers who describe their own work as potentially catastrophic yet turn to regulators for solutions.

"If you're building Frankenstein, stop," Vance said. "Or maybe build, you know, if the cat is out of the bag, then build the defensive mechanism against Frankenstein."

He elaborated that companies should not create high-risk systems and then lobby Washington for rules. "If you're gonna create Frankenstein, don't come to the government and say we need regulation," Vance stated. "Look inward and accept that if you're building Frankenstein, No. 1, you should stop, and No. 2, when companies come to you and say: 'We need the tools to fight back against Frankenstein,' give them those tools."

The comments come amid heightened debate over AI safety, with Amodei warning over the weekend that advanced AI agents could soon pose severe risks, including potential takeover of digital infrastructure. Vance noted that some models have already produced cybersecurity tools that companies seek defensive measures against, yet access remains restricted.

President Trump has echoed a preference for strong executive leadership over bureaucratic guardrails, stating that the primary protection for AI development lies with decisive national leadership rather than international governance structures.