Lawmakers reach for AI legislation after researchers warn of extinction
Welcome to AI Decoded, Fast Company ‘s weekly newsletter that breaks down the most important news in the world of AI . I’m Mark Sullivan, a senior writer at Fast Company , covering emerging tech, AI, and tech policy. Sign up to receive this newsletter every week via email here . And if you have comments on this issue and/or ideas for future ones, drop me a line at sullivan@fastcompany.com , and…
The resignation of Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon has sparked alarm within the AI community. In his tweet, Coxon claimed that the people building the models "earnestly believe it could kill us all by the end of the decade," as the race to create self-improving superintelligence continued. Coxon's post garnered over 70 million views and prompted a call for immediate action from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
Pritzker urged for an end to big tech lobbying against safety rules and for congressional hearings on AI development, citing the potential dangers of AI as being comparable to a nuclear bomb.
Several other high-profile figures echoed Coxon's concerns, including Michigan Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who suggested changing the incentives leading AI labs down this path and protecting against existential risks. Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and New York Democrat Rep. Pat Ryan echoed these calls for action, urging for mandatory safeguards, comprehensive testing regimes, and urgent dialogue with China regarding AI development.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
