{
  "id": 6506962,
  "title": "Lawmakers blast AI companies after researcher warns of human extinction by 2030",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/lawmakers-blast-ai-companies-after-researcher-warns-of-human",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-10T00:19:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian US",
    "slug": "the-guardian-us",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/09/lawmakers-blast-ai-human-extinct-2030"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lawmakers have expressed concern over the potential risks posed by artificial intelligence after a researcher warned of a possible human extinction by the end of the decade. Ted Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, stated that AI poses a \"catastrophic risk\" and recalled asking Elon Musk about the likelihood of AI destroying humanity, to which Musk responded that the odds were \"10-20%\". On the other side, Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, said that a recent poll showed that Americans overwhelmingly wanted to ban artificial super intelligence and pause AI development until clear safety standards were established. The outrage began after an Anthropic employee, Jacob Coxon, resigned from the company, warning that AI would soon become \"superhuman systems\" that could cause human extinction by 2030. Coxon's concerns were echoed by at least two other Anthropic employees. Both Cruz and Sanders have been working on legislation to put guardrails on AI, and both have called on Congress to take action. Other lawmakers, including Ted Lieu and Lori Trahan, have also weighed in, urging Congress to act and demanding that safety researchers be listened to. Even musicians such as Sheryl Crow and Maggie Rogers have weighed in, urging leaders to address the potential dangers of AI. Anthropic, the company behind the AI research, has published a cybersecurity incident report and stated that it is working on building models with strong safeguards, but acknowledged that the industry should work together to pace the release of powerful models.",
  "summary": "Former Anthropic employee Jacob Coxon said AI will become ‘superhuman systems’ that can cause human extinction by the end of the decade Just a day after three Anthropic researchers warned that artificial intelligence could kill off humanity within the decade, lawmakers have begun lashing out about the risks of the burgeoning technology. Ted Cruz, a republican senator from Texas, said in an…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ted Cruz warns AI poses catastrophic risk, citing Musk's 10-20% odds of human extinction",
    "Bernie Sanders backs poll showing Americans want to ban artificial super intelligence",
    "Anthropic employee resigns, warns AI could become superhuman systems causing extinction by 2030"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Lawmakers' alarm over AI risks marks a shift towards a more interventionist approach, with growing pressure on Congress to establish safety standards and guardrails for AI development.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Technology",
        "title": "Lawmakers blast AI companies after researcher warns of human extinction by 2030",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/lawmakers-blast-ai-companies-after-researcher-warns-of-human-6528499",
        "published": "2026-09-10T00:19:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}