In a wave of alarm from the artificial intelligence community, former Google DeepMind research engineer Bilal Chughtai announced on X that he believes AI could pose an existential threat to humanity within the next ten years. Chughtai, who left DeepMind in July 2026 after working on artificial general intelligence (AGI) safety and alignment, said the window to steer the technology safely may be closing.
Researchers sound the alarm
Chughtai’s warning follows recent statements from other AI scholars. Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned last week, citing a belief that “people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade.” Anthropic scientist Evan Hubinger later echoed that sentiment, estimating a greater than 10 % chance that AI could kill all humans within the next ten years.
In his post, Chughtai wrote, “I earnestly believe that AI has the potential to kill us all, and that we might be running out of time to avoid this outcome.” He added that navigating AI safely is possible but requires coordinated effort to prevent a “manic race between AI companies.”
Calls for a measured pace
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for a slowdown in the development of advanced AI systems, a stance that has found rare backing from SpaceX AI chief Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The trio argues that a deliberate pace would give society the chance to address emerging risks before they materialize into extreme harm.
Industry leaders stress the need for clear safety standards, transparent research practices, and international cooperation to manage the rapid progress of AI technologies.
President Trump’s response
President Donald Trump, however, dismissed the growing chorus of cautionary voices. In a recent social‑media post, the President labeled the AI industry’s push for regulation a “hoax,” suggesting that calls for oversight are politically motivated rather than grounded in genuine safety concerns.
Trump’s statement reflects his administration’s broader stance on technology regulation, emphasizing innovation and market‑driven solutions over what he characterizes as unnecessary governmental interference.
Balancing innovation and safety
The debate highlights a fundamental tension between fostering rapid AI advancement and ensuring that such progress does not outpace society’s ability to manage its risks. While researchers argue for a measured, coordinated approach, the President’s dismissal underscores a belief that regulatory efforts could stifle American competitiveness.
As the conversation continues, policymakers, industry executives, and academic experts will need to navigate these divergent perspectives. The outcome will shape not only the future of AI development but also the broader discourse on how the United States balances technological leadership with the responsibility to protect its citizens from unforeseen dangers.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
