Key facts
- US President Donald Trump described fears of AI taking over the world as a "hoax" and a "sick conspiracy."
- Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark suggested that a mandatory, third-party verifiable 'kill switch' for AI systems may be necessary.
- Clark stated that most AI labs, including Anthropic, have ways to 'pull the plug' on their systems.
- US lawmakers have introduced legislation called the Kill Switch Act, which would empower agencies to demand AI tools be shut down or limited.
- Anthropic scientist Evan Hubinger estimated a greater than 10% possibility of human extinction from AI within the next decade.
US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns about the safety of artificial intelligence as a "hoax" and a "sick conspiracy," criticizing calls for greater safeguards on the rapidly developing technology. His remarks come as Jack Clark, a co-founder of AI firm Anthropic, suggested that mandatory, third-party verifiable 'kill switches' for dangerous AI systems may be necessary.
Clark's comments follow warnings about AI risks from several executives and staff at leading AI firms, which have triggered investor concerns and a selloff in tech shares. He noted that while most AI labs, including Anthropic, possess internal mechanisms to shut down their systems, policymakers might need to enforce such requirements. US lawmakers have introduced the Kill Switch Act, a bill aimed at empowering agencies to demand AI tools be shut down or limited.
Anthropic scientist Evan Hubinger has estimated a greater than 10% possibility of human extinction from AI within the next decade. The company, founded in 2021, is known for its chatbot Claude and has been at the center of AI safety debates. Microsoft AI has also entered the discussion, publishing an outline document on 'humanist AI' in response to the growing debate.
Meanwhile, former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon and Senator Bernie Sanders are scheduled to speak at an event focused on re-evaluating AI policy, highlighting the bipartisan attention on the technology's future.