Melania Trump encourages AI use, says it can’t replace humans

“Although artificial intelligence can generate images and information, only humans can generate meaning and purpose,” Trump said. “Choose to let your imagination drive your intellectual progress. But never use AI as a quick solution. Be intellectually honest with yourself — use AI as a tool — but do not let it replace your personal intelligence.”

The first lady’s speech is the latest in her efforts to empower the next generation with the intersection of AI and education. 

In August, she launched the Presidential AI Challenge, an initiative inviting students and educators to use AI to develop projects that address real-world challenges in their communities. 

During her remarks, she emphasized that AI can be used to foster people’s curiosity and bring their creative visions to fruition. 

“The Age of Imagination is a new era, powered by artificial intelligence, where one’s curiosity can be satisfied almost magically, in seconds,” she said. “You are fortunate to have the capability to fulfill your dreams through the power of learning, with AI serving as the primary engine for creative exploration.”

Throughout her speech, Trump said that people’s curiosity is the “driving force” behind “every great achievement,” and that it also optimizes AI. 

“Artificial intelligence is changing today’s world, and your curiosity should serve as the driving force,” Trump said. “Artificial Intelligence provides all the tools needed to implement your creative vision — today.”

“You can develop movie characters, scripts, fashion, music, art, the entire ecosystem. All with AI,” she added. 

Zoom’s event is part of the company’s broader initiative to teach AI literacy and responsibility. 

In 2025, Zoom Cares announced a $10 million three-year commitment to expand AI education and opportunity, including a $5 million investment for K-12 education.

The company has also worked with the first lady in another AI initiative, becoming a signatory of the White House’s “Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education,” led by Melania Trump. 

Since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second administration, the first lady has made AI one of the key issues she’s prioritizing. 

In September, she launched Fostering the Future Together, a global coalition of nations working to enhance children’s well-being through education, innovation, and technology. 

The coalition is aimed at prioritizing children’s development at the “intersection” of technology and education, according to the press release at the time. 

TRUMP SHARES MELANIA’S TAKE ON HIS ‘UNPRESIDENTIAL’ BEHAVIOR AND DANCING

While the first lady has been praising the emergence of AI throughout her initiatives, she continues to remind the public that human curiosity remains essential. 

When using AI to create projects, Trump said people need to “harness [their] imagination.”

“In the new AI era, the most powerful skill is knowing what to ask, why it matters, and how to think beyond the first answer,” she said. “I encourage you to be stubbornly curious, think outside the box, and question everything.”