Exclusive: IBM CEO backs Trump's narrowed AI executive order
Axios
—
IBM CEO https://www.axios.com/2025/10/31/ibm-ceo-arvind-krishna-ai-policy" target="_blank">Arvind Krishna backed the Trump administration's executive order on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity at Axios' https://axiosainysummit2026interest.splashthat.com/" target="_blank">AI+NY Summit Wednesday, preferring light government guardrails over more active intervention.
The big picture: The https://www.axios.com/2026/06/02/trump-signs-new-ai-executive-order" target="_blank">long-awaited order is an attempt to fortify the country's cyber defenses, but it doesn't compel AI companies to share information about their latest models.
Driving the news: "You want to have light regulation ... and not creating a big bureaucracy that can slow things down," Krishna told Axios' Maria Curi.
- Krishna, who has appeared beside the president as he's cheered on American AI development, has https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/ibm-ceo-arvind-krishna-warns-washington-must-find-goldilocks-middle-ground-ai-regulation?%3Fintcmp=fb_fbn&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawSKZvpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFqSHFOY1JZa2k5ZWJPZWZrc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHl3JUmTKZLdIDJI5N_t0GqLUMrYcowUzYk0U4jYzk9uhwhTTLifSTH5IUcVP_aem_YWdncwCoMaCjmfTIoTGtaFqLjspf&brid=YWdncwGMiyoxIARk-F-DVTflN7RU" target="_blank">said the government has to find a "Goldilocks" zone to regulate AI without hampering innovation.
- He told Axios Wednesday he thinks the current approach "hits the Goldilocks spot."
Zoom out: IBM has invested heavily in defensive safeguards to secure vulnerable open source software using AI — as that very tech https://www.axios.com/2025/10/25/ai-is-about-to-supercharge-cyberattacks" target="_blank">supercharges cyberattacks.
- Krishna has suggested the model behind "https://www.axios.com/2026/05/28/ibm-ai-push-cyber-threats" target="_blank">Project Lightwell" — the initiative from IBM and its open source software subsidiary, Red Hat — could inform the government's approach to AI safety solutions.
Catch up quick: On Tuesday, the White House released a narrowed order that requires national security agencies to bolster cybersecurity abilities and create a "cybersecurity clearinghouse" to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
Go deeper: https://www.axios.com/2026/02/13/ai-ibm-tech-jobs" target="_blank">IBM plans to triple entry-level hiring this year because of AI