AI-linked stocks slump after top lab CEOs call for slowing development
AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication
AI‑linked equities fell sharply across Asian markets on Monday after CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI and xAI urged a slowdown in advanced AI development. Anthropic founder Dario Amodei posted an essay warning that within six to twelve months AI agents could seize control of the internet, prompting similar statements from Elon Musk and Sam Altman, who also announced OpenAI will not pursue an IPO this year. The remarks sparked a sell‑off that saw Nasdaq e‑mini futures down 1.3% and SoftBank shares plunge 13.2% in Japan. Chipmakers Kioxia, Tokyo Electron, TSMC, SK Hynix and Samsung, as well as AI firms Zhongji Innolight, Minimax, Z.ai and CXMT, all posted declines. Analysts linked the pressure to heightened risk concerns and U.S.–China AI safety talks.
💡 Why It Matters
- · The joint caution from top AI CEOs instantly triggered market turbulence, showing that safety narratives can rapidly reshape investor confidence in the sector.