Politicians have criticised artificial intelligence companies over safety risks after a former Anthropic employee warned that AI could cause human extinction by 2030.
Key facts
- Former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon warned that AI will become 'superhuman systems' capable of causing human extinction by the end of the decade.
- Three Anthropic researchers issued warnings that AI could kill off humanity within the decade.
- Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas called AI a 'catastrophic risk' in an interview on ABC's The View.
- Cruz said he read the developer's tweet thread and found it 'highly concerning.'
Lawmakers have begun criticising artificial intelligence companies over the risks of the fast-growing technology, according to the Guardian, just a day after warnings that AI could threaten humanity within the decade.
Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic employee, said that AI will become ‘superhuman systems’ that can cause human extinction by the end of the decade. His warning came alongside cautions from three Anthropic researchers who said artificial intelligence could kill off humanity within the same time frame.
The warnings quickly drew a response from US politicians. Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, addressed the concerns during an interview on ABC’s The View, where he described AI as posing a ‘catastrophic risk.’
Cruz said he had read the developer’s full statement, referring to the online thread. ‘I read that whole tweet thread that that developer put out. It was highly concerning,’ he said, according to the Guardian.
The reaction reflects growing scrutiny of the AI industry as researchers who have worked inside major companies raise alarms about the pace and potential dangers of the technology’s development.
Why it matters
Warnings from researchers who have worked inside leading AI companies carry weight in ongoing debates over how the technology should be regulated. When lawmakers such as Ted Cruz publicly describe AI as a 'catastrophic risk,' it signals that safety concerns are moving from technical circles into mainstream political discussion, which could shape future oversight.
Frequently asked questions
Who warned that AI could cause human extinction?
Former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon warned that AI will become 'superhuman systems' capable of causing human extinction by the end of the decade. Three Anthropic researchers also warned that AI could kill off humanity within the decade.
What did Ted Cruz say about AI?
Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, said on ABC's The View that AI poses a 'catastrophic risk' and described the developer's tweet thread as 'highly concerning.'
When did these warnings emerge?
According to the Guardian, lawmakers began responding just a day after three Anthropic researchers issued their warnings, in reporting published in September 2026.