AI Experts Warn of Misaligned AI Threat During NYC Council Hearing

During a New York City Council hearing on October 5, 2026, former Google DeepMind researcher Alex Turner warned that misaligned artificial intelligence could pose a greater threat than China's aggressive AI development. Turner stated, "We are racing to build and grow our own adversary here at home, which is misaligned AI. Misaligned AI is everyone's adversary, including our own, and one day may be more powerful than China."

Anthropic whistleblower Jacob Coxon, who previously worked at OpenAI and Anthropic, testified that AI labs are "gambling with our lives" due to their reckless approach. He warned that on the current path, "it is more likely than not that humanity loses control to these AIs, and it could end in human extinction."

Senior leaders from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta testified under oath about the potential dangers of advanced AI models and outlined current safety measures. New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin expressed frustration with the lack of direct responses to questions, particularly regarding legal liability when AI models cause serious financial harm or death.

Google's Alice Friend supported a comprehensive federal framework to address AI risks, citing national security concerns. Both Coxon and former OpenAI researcher Daniel Kokotajlo criticized the "move fast and break things" culture in AI development, emphasizing the need for transparency and slower model development. The hearing followed heightened scrutiny over AI safety practices, particularly after Coxon's resignation from Anthropic and subsequent social media claims.