Jun 3, 2026 - Axios Events

Exclusive: IBM CEO backs Trump's narrowed AI executive order

Avery Lotz

Bald man in a dark suit and light shirt sits in a white armchair on a blue stage, gesturing with his left hand; a blue backdrop behind shows the word "AXIOS". — IBM CEO Arvind Krishna speaks at Axios' AI+NY Summit on June 3. Photo: Mark Davis for Axios

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna backed the Trump administration's executive order on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity at Axios' AI+NY Summit Wednesday, preferring light government guardrails over more active intervention.

The big picture: The 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 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 supercharges cyberattacks.

Krishna has suggested the model behind "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: IBM plans to triple entry-level hiring this year because of AI

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Exclusive: IBM CEO backs Trump's narrowed AI executive order

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