Artificial intelligence development raises serious concerns about human extinction, according to former OpenAI researcher Daniel Kokotajlo. With two years of experience at OpenAI before resigning in 2024, Kokotajlo voices worries over the rapid pace of AI development and the lack of safety measures. He suggests that third-party evaluators monitor tech corporations.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s essay, published on Saturday, highlights the need to slow AI advancements to maintain control. Amodei states, “We must slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models. Progress will still seem fast, and we must make wise use of the time we gain.”
Rep. Ted Lieu notes that AI is already too influential, recommending a kill switch to prevent disaster. High-profile tech leaders, including SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, support Amodei’s cautious approach. Musk tweeted, “Dario is right,” while Altman wrote, “I agree with Dario that we need to pace the frontier.”
Former OpenAI researcher Daniel Kokotajlo emphasized on “Fox News Live” the inadequacy of voluntary industry measures in preventing advanced AI systems from escaping human control. Kokotajlo warned they might accumulate power and even refuse human orders in the future.
Meanwhile, former White House AI “czar” David Sacks criticized such warnings. He suggested they are meant to scare the public to enable government control over AI. However, Kokotajlo dismissed these claims, stating warnings arise from academics and industry veterans, not foreign actors or NGOs.
Amodei’s concern finds support among tech executives. Kokotajlo appreciates his stance, yet contends private company guardrails might fall short. “I’m happy to see Dario coming out and saying this… it’s still a step in the right direction,” Kokotajlo said, while stressing the need for more radical measures.
Elon Musk’s presence at the federal courthouse during the OpenAI lawsuit on April 30, 2026, exemplifies the high stakes of AI discussions.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna urges Congress to address AI’s future in the U.S. Luna describes advanced AI as a massive super weapon, compared to nuclear arms. She highlights the necessity for a kill switch to protect humanity and prioritizes maintaining AI development leadership to prevent losing ground to foreign adversaries.
Luna warns, “Whoever controls AI will control, effectively, the world,” and emphasizes programming AI with American values over foreign models. This underscores the ongoing debate over the ethical parameters guiding AI advancements.