Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei has called for AI development to slow down amid growing concerns about the technology's potential for serious harm, joining OpenAI's Sam Altman in urging caution. President Trump has dismissed the warnings as coming from 'negative forces.'
Key facts
- Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for AI development to slow down, according to the BBC.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined Amodei in urging caution over AI safety, according to NPR.
- The calls come amid fears the industry is racing too fast while safety measures lag.
- President Trump downplayed the concerns, saying 'negative forces' were predicting things that won't happen.
- NPR reported OpenAI is set to delay its IPO.
Dario Amodei, the chief executive of AI company Anthropic, has called for the pace of artificial intelligence development to slow down, according to the BBC. His appeal comes amid growing concerns that AI models could become capable of inflicting serious damage worldwide.
Amodei is not alone in raising the alarm. According to NPR, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has also urged caution, making the two prominent industry leaders among the latest voices warning that companies may be moving too quickly. NPR reported that the concern centres on fears the industry is racing to build powerful AI while safety measures lag behind.
The warnings from two of the most influential figures in the sector mark a notable moment, as the executives leading the development of these technologies publicly question the speed at which the industry is advancing. NPR also reported that OpenAI is set to delay its planned initial public offering.
The calls for restraint were met with skepticism at the highest level of the US government. According to NPR, President Trump said there were ‘negative forces’ predicting things that he says won’t happen.
The BBC similarly reported that Trump downplayed AI risks following the expert warnings and calls to slow development. The President described those airing concerns as ‘negative forces’ who were raising alarms about ‘things that won’t happen.’
The exchange highlights a widening divide between some leading AI developers, who are urging caution over safety, and political leaders who remain more optimistic about the technology’s trajectory. The differing positions come as the debate over how fast and how safely AI should advance continues to intensify.
Why it matters
When the people building the most powerful AI systems publicly call for slowing down, it signals that safety concerns inside the industry are serious. The clash with political leaders who dismiss those fears will shape how, and whether, AI development is regulated in the years ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Who is calling for AI development to slow down?
Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman have both urged caution and called for AI development to slow down, according to the BBC and NPR.
Why are they calling for a slowdown?
According to NPR, the calls come amid fears that the industry is racing too fast to build powerful AI while safety measures lag behind, with the BBC noting concerns that AI models could become able to inflict serious damage worldwide.
How has President Trump responded?
According to NPR and the BBC, President Trump downplayed the risks, saying 'negative forces' were predicting or airing concerns about things he says won't happen.