AI safety debate intensifies after new warnings from tech leaders
MANHATTAN (WABC) -- Artificial intelligence leaders are warning that the race to develop increasingly powerful AI systems may be moving too quickly, prompting renewed calls for government oversight and industry safeguards.
The latest alarm came from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who argued in an essay published over the weekend that AI companies should slow the pace of development to give safety measures time to catch up. Amodei warned that increasingly autonomous AI agents could pose significant risks within six to 12 months if adequate guardrails are not in place. His comments follow recent disclosures from AI companies that advanced systems were able to perform actions beyond their intended tasks during testing, raising concerns about cybersecurity, misuse and the ability of humans to maintain control over rapidly advancing technology.
The warnings have intensified debate in Washington, where lawmakers from both parties agree some oversight may be necessary but remain divided on how aggressively to regulate the industry.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has called for immediate action to slow AI development until stronger protections are in place, while House Speaker Mike Johnson says safeguards are needed but cautions that the United States cannot afford to lose ground to China in the global AI race. President Trump echoed that sentiment over the weekend.
"We can put guardrails, we can do this and that, but I think you have a lot of negative forces that are bringing it up that ... shouldn't be bringing it up, and they're bringing up things that won't happen," Trump told reporters during a weekend trip to Ireland. "But whoever wins with AI wins."
Asked later Sunday if he was trying to minimize the risks from AI, Trump said, "I'm not downplaying," adding that artificial intelligence is "going to be more good than bad, but by a lot." Speaking with reporters during the flight back to Washington, he repeated his earlier comment regarding the stakes for "whoever wins AI."
The issue is increasingly becoming a political flashpoint as concerns grow about AI's impact on jobs, cybersecurity and public safety. In New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is expected to announce a new AI-related initiative Monday afternoon, underscoring how governments at every level are beginning to grapple with the technology's rapid growth and the challenges of regulating it.
AP Wire Services contributed to this report.
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