AI and the end of humanity? OK, ‘doomer’ says one Trump official
cnn.com Sep 14, 2026

AI and the end of humanity? OK, ‘doomer’ says one Trump official

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei urged a “conscious slowdown” of AI development in an online essay, warning that unchecked progress could outpace human control. The plea follows a viral warning from former Anthropic engineer Jacob Coxon, who told CNN that AI researchers believe the technology could “kill us all” by decade’s end, citing scenarios such as autonomous nuclear attacks or societal collapse. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated that AI does not make lethal decisions, but current law lacks explicit limits on AI’s role in the kill chain. Lawmakers and advocacy groups have amplified these concerns, urging regulation as AI firms—including Anthropic and OpenAI—push toward IPOs while calling for governmental oversight. Senator Bernie Sanders has joined calls for federal action.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · The convergence of industry warnings and political pressure could force the first substantive federal AI regulatory framework, shaping how powerful models are deployed worldwide.