The race to develop artificial intelligence has entered a new phase of debate in recent days, with rising calls to slow the pace of developing the most advanced models and to give safety and oversight measures enough time to catch up with rapid technological progress. Notably, these calls are coming from within the industry itself and have found support from several prominent AI company leaders.
Voices from Within the Industry
Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, has called for “slowing down” the development of advanced AI models, warning that the pace of progress has become faster than safety systems can keep up with. He said that within 6 to 12 months, AI could reach a stage where swarms of autonomous agents can carry out large-scale operations on the internet, potentially causing serious harm.
Amodei proposed a three-pronged plan that includes allowing independent evaluators to access AI systems within companies to monitor safety measures, cooperation among leading companies to set common standards, and broader international coordination to establish controls for the most advanced technologies. He stressed that the goal is not to stop innovation but to slow it down enough so that protective measures can keep pace.
Unusual Support from Competitors
The call has turned into a position with unusual support from major competitors in the sector. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, announced his support for the idea of “slowing the pace of developing advanced capabilities,” confirming that his company is ready to implement an independent evaluation system. Elon Musk announced his support for Amodei, while Demis Hassabis, head of Google DeepMind, expressed support for the general direction of the plan, with a need to discuss its details.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, joined the voices supporting more conservative AI development, stressing that any pursuit of superintelligence must remain based on the principle that systems are under human control and serve human interests. He also called for independent oversight and broader representation in the governance rule-making process.
Trump Pushes Back
Calls for caution quickly collided with geopolitical competition; US President Donald Trump downplayed the risks of slowing development, warning that a pullback could allow China to narrow the gap with the United States. He said maintaining US AI superiority is a strategic priority.
The debate extended to global markets, as shares of AI-related and chip companies fell when markets reopened on Monday following a wave of warnings from industry leaders. Investor reactions showed that concerns are no longer limited to safety and ethics but are also beginning to affect economic expectations about the sector’s growth speed.
Slowing AI development is no longer just a call from independent researchers warning of its risks; it has become a discussion within the largest companies leading the race itself.