Coxon, who left US AI company Anthropic, told the BBC that he is “really frightened” by the pace of AI development and its impact on humanity. In remarks made after leaving the company, he called for development to be slowed, while reactions from industry figures and competitors have also been reported.
Coxon, who left US artificial intelligence company Anthropic, told the BBC that he believes humanity is likely to face fatal consequences in the near future unless the current pace of technological progress is slowed. The interview was conducted via video link on a program, and he is reported to have left the company on the 8th of this month.
CEO Amodei said on the 12th that the pace of AI development should be slowed, citing independent oversight, industry regulation and international regulation as 3 pillars for prioritizing safety. OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk expressed support for the proposal.
Coxon discussed his experience during his time at OpenAI before leaving Anthropic, and said that while he welcomed the proposal to slow development, cooperation with China would be necessary to avoid international competition. Concerns about the risk of human extinction from AI have divided opinion among industry figures.
In response to the BBC, an Anthropic spokesperson said the company had been transparent about the benefits and risks posed by AI and would continue testing and validation to mitigate those risks. The industry’s competitive structure is once again attracting attention, including recent valuations, IPO rumors and developments involving leading US companies.