A former researcher at Anthropic and OpenAI named Jacob Coxon went viral this week warning that artificial intelligence could end humanity within a decade. He says these systems will soon be superhuman and capable of hacking anything, and he accused the companies behind them of acting irresponsibly. His warning landed alongside an open letter signed by nearly 1,400 AI employees urging the federal government to regulate AI research.
California is already moving. Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation requiring large AI developers to report safety incidents and disclose their safety plans. Anthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot, said it blocked attempts to use Claude for cyberattacks and weapon creation, a reminder that the risks are concrete and not just theoretical. But not everyone is convinced by the extinction talk. Stefano Bellasio, CEO of the AI startup Anthropos, called the doom claims panic without evidence and argued for education, open-source models, and accountability over heavy regulation.
Why does this matter here in Sacramento? The AI boom is right up the road, and it’s already spilling into our region, from state agencies adopting new tools to local businesses chasing efficiency and jobs. The rules being written at the Capitol will shape what that looks like for our neighborhoods. So where do you land? Is the extinction warning a real alarm or pure panic? Tell us in the comments.
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
