US Congress responds to researcher's AI extinction warning
More than 20 members of the US Congress have called for new or stronger AI regulation this week after researcher Jacob Coxon publicly resigned from Anthropic.
Coxon, who previously worked at OpenAI, wrote in a post on X that people building AI genuinely believe it could kill everyone by the end of the decade. According to CNBC, the post has been viewed more than 150 million times.
A letter circulating in Congress urges House Speaker Mike Johnson to end the chamber's recess and keep it in session until AI safeguards are passed. According to Axios, the letter was drafted by Rep. Sam Liccardo and co-signed by Reps. Whitesides, Trahan and Lieu.
Several bills are already on the table, including the Frontier Act and the AI Kill Switch Act, both introduced in July, as well as the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act introduced in September, which would pause development of advanced AI until safety rules are set.
Rep. Lori Trahan told CNBC that bipartisan support has reached 'a tipping point,' saying her phone had been ringing nonstop all week. President Trump, however, dismissed extinction concerns, saying the US cannot afford to lose the AI race.
According to an August Pew Research Center survey, 52% of Americans said they are more concerned than excited about AI's growing role in daily life, up from 37% in 2021.
Since Congress is largely in recess until the November midterms, it remains unclear, according to the reports, whether any legislation will pass soon.
WHY IT MATTERS
A sudden political response to warnings from AI insiders shows that risks from advanced AI systems are now being taken seriously in the political mainstream.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
- Check viral warnings critically Look at who published the warning and whether trusted news outlets confirm it. Only share content once you know the source.
- Follow AI rules via official sources Track legislation through official government sites or established news outlets. That way you know what has actually passed versus what's just proposed.
- Contact lawmakers if concerned If AI regulation matters to you, you can email or write to your elected representatives. This is a legitimate way to share your view.
- Stay calm, act informed Don't let sensational headlines rattle you; check multiple independent sources instead. That helps you make calm, well-grounded decisions.