AI leader warns it 'could kill us all.' Should CT do more to regulate it?
Despite the dire warnings from artificial intelligence companies, the candidates for governor are taking a cautious approach to more regulation.
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Despite dire warnings that artificial intelligence “could kill us all by the end of the decade,” the candidates for Connecticut governor are taking a cautious approach to more regulations.
But top state lawmakers are pushing for new guardrails.
“COULD KILL US ALL”
Chances are you’ve used an app like ChatGPT or Claude. But in a rare move, top AI developers are all warning that the technology is growing dangerously fast – and needs new regulation.
“The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade,” former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon posted on social media. “No other human activity poses this level of danger.”
Days later, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei posted an essay warning that, within the next year, AI models could launch a massive cyberattack on vital infrastructure like the power grid, “potentially causing hundreds of billions of dollars in damage.”
“The nightmare scenario for six to 12 months would be that you have, you know, a swarm of these agents that you know that form some kind of botnet collective and you know could take down large segments of the internet,” Amodei told CNN.
SHOULD CT DO MORE?
The ominous warnings from Silicon Valley are getting attention in Hartford.
“AI has incredible potential for good and incredible potential for danger,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.
But Lamont believes that Congress should take the lead on regulating artificial intelligence.
“What can Connecticut do by itself? Not much,” the governor told reporters. “What can America do by itself? A lot.”
Lamont did sign a new AI law in May – one year after threatening to veto much tougher regulations over economic development concerns. Employers must now disclose when they use AI to screen job applicants, but the law does not restrict landlords or health care companies.
“Connecticut has taken the lead on that,” Lamont said. “Social media and AI and protections, particularly for our younger folks."
Lamont’s opponent, state Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-Greenwich), was one of only four Republican senators who opposed the law.
“We need a state framework that imposes liability on developers,” Fazio said on Tuesday. “But creating excessive regulation for small business that are using technologies here in Connecticut, is what I was concerned about … Regulation that’s aimed at hurting small businesses in Connecticut or Connecticut users, I think would be unfair and harm us economically.”
WILL WASHINGTON ACT?
Lamont and Fazio do agree on one thing. Both think Washington needs to act.
But the chances of that are slim, at least in the short-term.
“Nothing’s going to happen, in my opinion, until after the midterm,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.). “Here's what I hear the AI CEO saying. They’re saying, ‘Give us your permission to slow down AI development.’ They don't need our permission.”
President Donald Trump dismissed the AI leaders’ fears, calling them a “hoax” designed to hurt America’s competitiveness against China.
“I’ve said it from the beginning. Whoever wins AI – and we’re leading by a lot – whoever wins AI, wins,” he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) agreed.
“We have to maintain our edge over China,” he said Monday. “That’s what the president is laser focused on, and we are as well.”
Despite the stance on Capitol Hill, top lawmakers in Hartford plan to push for even more guardrails.
“As AI continues to move forward at a, really a breakneck speed, we have to keep up with it,” said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk).
On Wednesday, state comptroller Sean Scanlon plans to announce “sweeping new protections for more than 270,000 members of the State Employee Health Plan and Partnership Plan against adverse healthcare impacts caused by AI.”
