Sam Altman’s second thoughts

Casey Newton··14 min read
AI/MLPoliticsTechnology
Share𝕏in

AI Summary

The newsletter examines escalating violence against AI executives, including a Molotov cocktail attack on Sam Altman's home and shootings at data center supporters. It critiques Altman's call to 'de-escalate rhetoric' while noting that AI CEOs themselves have spent years describing AI as an existential threat to humanity.

Key Facts

A 20-year-old threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's house and threatened OpenAI headquarters, part of escalating violence against AI executives.
Altman called for de-escalating AI rhetoric despite spending years describing AI as potentially humanity's greatest existential threat alongside nuclear war.
OpenAI has consistently lobbied against democratic AI oversight including California's SB 1047 and the EU AI Act while calling for democratic governance.

Author Takes

SkepticalCasey Newton

AI rhetoric escalation

Altman's call to de-escalate rhetoric rings hollow given he spent a decade warning AI could end humanity

Related topics

More from Casey Newton

📰TodayFeed📡Signals💰Capital