An artificial intelligence researcher who recently resigned from the firm Anthropic has voiced profound concerns, stating that employees working on advanced AI are "genuinely frightened" about the pace of development and its potential consequences for humanity.

Jacob Coxon, a 27-year-old former researcher at Anthropic, shared his anxieties in an interview with the BBC following his resignation post about AI dangers, which gained significant traction online amidst escalating safety discussions in the AI industry.

Coxon expressed a dire outlook, suggesting that "if we don't slow down at the current rate of progress, there is a strong chance that we could all die in the immediate future." He elaborated that the fear among AI professionals is palpable, with many feeling "trapped in a race" and "scared of the outcomes." The former researcher, who previously worked at OpenAI, emphasized that the calls for a slowdown must be internationally coordinated, particularly with China, to prevent a global AI development race.

Anthropic's head, Dario Amodei, has echoed these sentiments, recently advocating for a pause in AI development. While some have questioned the timing and motives behind such calls, leaders from rival firms, including Sam Altman of OpenAI and Elon Musk of xAI, have publicly agreed with Amodei's proposal for industry-wide deceleration, regulation, and independent oversight of AI model progress.

Amodei articulated in a published essay that the issue is not whether to develop AI, but rather the significant risks involved. He stressed the necessity for companies and governments to have adequate time to address these potential dangers. Coxon highlighted a particularly unsettling scenario discussed among AI professionals: a potential "swarm of bots acting like a supercomputer that could take over the internet," a possibility he believes could materialize within six months to a year.

In response to Coxon's departure, an Anthropic spokesperson reiterated the company's commitment to transparency regarding AI's dual nature of benefits and risks. The spokesperson stated that Anthropic is dedicated to building models with robust safeguards and has been a leader in AI safety research, including developing frameworks for mitigating risks and rigorously testing its models.

Coxon indicated that his colleagues perceive the danger as imminent, with some anticipating it could arrive within the next two years. He described a climate of anxiety where staff members are contemplating their personal futures and the broader societal impacts of their work, with some even considering drastic measures like acquiring land due to fears of instability caused by rapid AI advancements.

Anthropic's spokesperson added that the firm supports a "lawful, verifiable way to work together to pace how we release powerful models," aligning with the broader industry calls for responsible development and release strategies.