Two AI researchers leave Anthropic and Google over safety concerns: ‘There are no adults in the room’

Live updates

1. 21h ago

   AI researchers exit Google and Anthropic over safety risks

   Recent resignations from Google DeepMind and Anthropic highlight growing internal fears that AI development is outpacing safety oversight. Jacob Coxon and another researcher left Anthropic, warning that companies are racing toward superintelligence without necessary safeguards. A former Google DeepMind staffer claimed AI has the potential to kill humanity and that time is running out to prevent widespread harm. While OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind have held safety talks for weeks, the Trump administration has dismissed these concerns to maintain a competitive edge against China.

   Why it matters

   These departures follow warnings from Anthropic staff that AI could cause human extinction by 2030. Some exiting employees have reportedly forfeited equity to leave. The trend reflects a broader push by experts to slow the development of frontier models.

   What is confirmed

   • Two safety researchers resigned from Anthropic simultaneously.
   • A former Google DeepMind researcher warned that AI has the potential to kill us all.
   • OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind have engaged in AI safety talks for several weeks.
   • The Trump team has dismissed AI safety concerns to keep pace with China.

   Still unconfirmed

   • A viral Slack resignation note from an Anthropic researcher has created a regulatory question for the SEC.
   • An Anthropic employee warning of human extinction risks a 2.3 trillion dollar IPO.

   What to watch next

   • SEC action regarding Anthropic internal warnings
   • Official safety agreements between OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic
   • Policy shifts from the Trump administration on AI guardrails
   Sources used for this update (7)

   1. blockonomi.com — Former Anthropic Researchers Sound Alarm on AI Safety After Simultaneous Resignations
   2. finance.yahoo.com — Chamath Palihapitiya: Anthropic Employee’s “Human Extinction” AI Warning Risks $2.3 Trillion IPO
   3. inews.co.uk — I grew up in a council house – and saw the disastrous failure of Right to Buy
   4. time.com — The AI Tipping Point
   5. finance.yahoo.com — Google DeepMind Staffer Says AI May ‘Kill Us All’ in Exit Post
   6. techcrunch.com — OpenAI, Anthropic, Google have been in talks on AI safety for weeks
   7. tech.yahoo.com — Now, A Google AI Researcher Quits And Warns ‘AI Has The Potential To Kill Us All’
   confidence 90%
2. 4d ago

   Researchers Exit Anthropic and Google Over AI Safety Concerns

   AI researchers Joe Benton and Josh Engels have resigned from Anthropic and Google to pursue independent safety research. The departures follow warnings from Anthropic staff that AI systems could lead to human extinction by 2030. One whistleblower reportedly forfeited their equity to leave the company, citing fears that AI is becoming out of control. These resignations contribute to a broader trend of experts from OpenAI and Anthropic calling for a slowdown in development as they warn that machines could eventually grow smart enough to kill humans.

   Why it matters

   The exodus highlights a growing divide between commercial AI development speed and safety precautions. This tension has reached the US government, with Senate Commerce considering AI bills this month. Some critics, including Elon Musk, have dismissed these doomsday fears as a psyop.

   What is confirmed

   • Joe Benton and Josh Engels left Anthropic and Google to conduct independent AI safety research.
   • Researchers at Anthropic have warned that AI could cause human extinction by 2030.
   • Experts from OpenAI and Anthropic are calling for a slowdown in AI development.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Anthropic researchers described the internal environment by stating there are no adults in the room.

   What to watch next

   • Senate Commerce committee action on AI safety bills
   • Public statements from Google or Anthropic regarding the resignations of Benton and Engels
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. www.businessinsider.com — At an ex-OpenAI researcher's influential lab, $500,000 salaries aren't enough to fix a talent 'bottleneck'
   2. WSJ — Exclusive | Anthropic Researcher Quits Over ‘Out-of-Control’ AI Fears
   3. The Guardian — Anthropic researchers panic, say AI could cause human extinction by 2030
   4. axios.com — Scoop: Anthropic whistleblower gave up his equity to leave the company
   5. WSJ — How Would AI Actually Kill Us All? What to Know About the AI Doomsday Debate
   6. CNBC — 'Extinction' warnings ramp up as more OpenAI, Anthropic researchers join calls for an AI slowdown
   7. Politico — Senate Commerce may mark up AI bills this month amid furor over safety, Cruz says
   8. theguardian.com — More Anthropic researchers warn of AI’s perils as Musk terms fears a ‘psyop’
   9. The New York Times — A.I. Could Possibly End Humanity. How Are Humans Supposed to Process That?
   10. NBC News — Two AI researchers leave Anthropic and Google over safety concerns: ‘There are no adults in the room’
   11. CBS News — Ex-Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon warns AI could grow "smart enough to kill us"
   12. The Conversation — ‘We really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans’: if AI labs are so worried about AI doom, why don’t they stop?
   confidence 90%