Jacob Coxon tells NYC Council AI could end humanity
Why it matters
A former OpenAI and Anthropic researcher told the NYC Council that, on the current path, losing control to AI is more likely than not. The hearing covered whistleblower rewards and a right to sue.
The facts
- Confirmed
Coxon quit Anthropic in September. On X he said he spent 3 years researching AI at OpenAI and Anthropic, and neither is acting responsibly.
- Confirmed
He told the NYC Council: on the current path, humanity losing control to AI is more likely than not, and could end in human extinction.
“on the current path… it is more likely than not that humanity loses control to these AIs, and it could end in human extinction.”
- Confirmed
Senior staff from OpenAI, Meta, Google and Anthropic were questioned under oath. Bills heard include whistleblower rewards and "private right-of-action" (a right to sue).
“question senior policy executives at leading AI companies under oath”
Behind the headline
- Confirmed
Coxon says OpenAI had milestones in his time there for an automated AI researcher around 2027-2028, and "we are on track or beating these expectations".
- Confirmed
SpaceXAI skipped the 5 Oct hearing. After a Council subpoena, it testified at a follow-up hearing on 16 Oct.
“issued after SpaceXAI did not attend”