Sam Altman says some AI accidents are 'unavoidable' as the industry grapples with apocalypse fears
The OpenAI CEO says AI firms should follow the aviation industry by reporting, investigating, and learning from failures.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has stated that AI accidents are unavoidable as technology advances, but companies must prioritize transparent accident reporting and learning from them. He likened the AI industry to the aviation sector, where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have a strong culture of reporting and learning from incidents, leading to safer flying.
Altman emphasized that accidents are inevitable, but the industry should strive to minimize their impact by investigating and reacting to each one. The AI industry is currently facing questions about the pace at which major labs are developing powerful autonomous systems. Some researchers have warned that advanced systems could one day pose catastrophic threats, although they would face challenges in accessing the physical world.
Altman acknowledged that there are legitimate AI doomsday fears, such as the risk of loss-of-control accidents and the potential for a small number of AI developers to concentrate too much power. He stressed that the solution is not to abandon AI technology, but to ensure that alignment, safety, and monitoring remain ahead of capabilities.
He also noted that companies must be prepared to slow down or stop development if they cannot ensure safety. Altman's comments come as the Trump administration has shown little interest in regulating the sector, aiming to maintain US dominance over China. However, some AI-safety advocates have criticized frontier labs for continuing to build more capable models despite recognizing the stakes.
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