A new panic over artificial intelligence is erupting in the US

Concern is growing in the US over the rapid development of AI. The trigger was statements by former Anthropic researcher Jacob Cookson, who warned of a potential threat to civilization. The topic has spread beyond the tech industry, attracting the attention of celebrities and politicians. Experts consider the scenario of human extinction unlikely.

A new wave of panic over artificial intelligence is erupting in the US. The trigger was statements by Jacob Cookson, a former researcher at the company Anthropic, who warned that AI systems out of control could threaten the existence of civilization. His words caused a huge resonance on social media and attracted the attention of millions of people, politicians, and celebrities, including actor Matt Damon and singer Sheryl Crow. Crow accused tech leaders of caring more about financial interests than the future of children. Interest in the topic has sharply increased: the number of views of the Wikipedia page on existential risks of AI has multiplied, and demand for books on potential dangers has noticeably grown. Representatives of companies in software, cybersecurity, and medical technology note that clients are increasingly asking questions about failures of autonomous systems and cyberattacks. At the same time, funding for organizations involved in AI safety is growing — researchers report a large one-time donation of $40,000. However, as the Wall Street Journal notes, the opinion that AI could lead to the extinction of humanity remains a minority among experts. Debates continue in the US about the need for state regulation of the industry. Cookson himself rejects suggestions of a pre-organized campaign.