Anthropic investor Lonsdale says AI firms stoking fear to sway policy

thestar.com.my Sep 26, 2026

Anthropic investor Lonsdale says AI firms stoking fear to sway policy

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Sep 26, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Investor Joe Lonsdale, co‑founder of Palantir and founder of venture firm 8VC, warned at Reuters Momentum AI in Austin that AI firms such as Anthropic and OpenAI are using existential‑risk warnings to influence regulation and cement an industry oligopoly. Lonsdale criticized the companies’ funding of external groups advocating stricter rules, arguing it could let a few dominant players shape policy to their advantage. While praising Anthropic’s talent and his own investment, he cautioned that “fear and regulation” must be handled carefully. Lonsdale also discussed potential acquisitions of Ukrainian defense tech by his portfolio companies and stressed that AI‑driven autonomous weapons require human accountability, citing recent conflicts in Ukraine and the US‑Iran strike on a school.

💡 Why It Matters

· Lonsdale’s critique exposes a clash between safety rhetoric and market control, suggesting that regulatory lobbying may become a tool for tech giants to lock in their dominance.

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