‘We really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans’: if AI labs are so worried about AI doom, why don’t they stop?
The article examines why researchers continue to develop advanced AI despite widespread internal fears that the technology could lead to human extinction. It highlights recent high-profile resignations from major AI labs as evidence of the growing ethical divide within the industry.
Why it matters
The tension between rapid AI development and existential safety concerns is a defining ethical challenge for the future of technology and human safety.
Gorodenkoff / Getty Images ‘We really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans’: if AI labs are so worried about AI doom, why don’t they stop? Published: September 11, 2026 12:13am EDT https://theconversation.com/we-really-do-earnestly-believe-ai-could-kill-all-humans-if-ai-labs-are-so-worried-about-ai-doom-why-dont-they-stop-291595 https://theconversation.com/we-really-do-earnestly-believe-ai-could-kill-all-humans-if-ai-labs-are-so-worried-about-ai-doom-why-dont-they-stop-291595 Link copied Share article Share article
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Earlier this week, researcher Jacob Coxon quit Anthropic, saying the firm and its competitors are “ gambling with our lives ”. “We really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans,” added current Anthropic researcher Evan Hubinger in a post on X .
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