Anthropic CEO warns AI botnet swarms could soon take over the internet as Musk and Altman back slowdown

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that an AI-powered botnet swarm could take over the entire internet within six to twelve months, potentially causing hundreds of billions of dollars in damage. Amodei has called for a slowdown in the development of new AI models, a suggestion that has been backed by tech giants Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

The warning comes as fears over AI continue to reach a peak, following numerous incidents of rogue agents and the suggestion that AI development could lead to human extinction. Anthropic was recently implicated in military reconnaissance and targeting recommendations for US naval forces in the Middle East, as well as potential attempts by suspected state-sponsored researchers to develop biological weapons.

Senator Bernie Sanders has proposed the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, which could result in up to 20 years in prison for violations. However, some argue that calling for a slowdown in AI development is ineffective if others do not follow suit. Companies fear they will fall behind if they slow their pace, while countries argue they will struggle to compete with rivals if development is limited.