Lawmakers slam AI firms after researcher warns of human extinction by 2030
anthropic
| Source: Mastodon | Original article
Lawmakers criticize AI firms after a former Anthropic employee warned that superhuman AI could cause human extinction by 2030.
Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon has ignited a fresh political firestorm after warning that “superhuman” AI systems could bring about human extinction by the end of the decade. Coxon, who quit the company earlier this month, posted the alarm on X, saying the pace of development makes safe deployment impossible. His statement came just a day after three other Anthropic scientists issued similarly stark forecasts.
The warning prompted an immediate bipartisan outcry on Capitol Hill. Representatives, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, took to social media and press briefings to condemn AI firms for what they described as “reckless” advancement and to demand urgent congressional action. Lawmakers argued that existing oversight is insufficient and that the industry’s self‑regulation has failed to address existential risks.
The episode builds on a series of resignations and internal alerts from Anthropic that we reported earlier this month. Those departures have already highlighted a growing rift between AI developers and safety‑concerned staff, and Coxon’s public alarm appears to have tipped the issue into the legislative arena.
What comes next will likely shape the next phase of AI governance. Expect congressional committees to schedule hearings on AI safety, and several members are already drafting bills that would impose stricter testing, transparency and possibly a moratorium on systems deemed “superhuman.” Industry leaders have yet to issue a coordinated response, but the pressure to demonstrate concrete safety measures is mounting. The coming weeks will reveal whether policymakers can translate the alarm into enforceable regulation before the decade’s end.
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