Ex-DeepMind Researcher Quits Over Fears That AI Could Wipe Out Humanity
A former Google DeepMind researcher, Bilal Chughtai, has expressed concerns about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. He recently resigned from his position at the AI lab, citing fears that AI could 'kill us all' and humanity might be running out of time to avoid this outcome.
In a statement posted on X, Chughtai wrote that he witnessed AI development firsthand at Google and is extremely concerned by the default trajectory of the technology. He also emphasized that alignment, which refers to ensuring AI systems' goals and behavior comply with their instructions, has proven to be difficult.
Chughtai's comments come after former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon reignited focus on AI safety with his own viral post, warning that employees at AI companies privately fear the technology could wipe out humanity. Some in the industry have criticized Coxon, but others at Anthropic and OpenAI have echoed his concerns.
Chughtai joined BlueDot Impact, a London-based AI safety nonprofit, after his resignation from Google DeepMind. The company recently raised $25 million and is expanding to San Francisco.