China Rejects Anthropic CEO's Call to Slow AI Development

China has sharply criticized Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's call to curb its artificial intelligence development, labeling his remarks as fearmongering.

Amodei, who addressed the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February 2026, urged AI companies to slow the pace of model development. He cited fears over misuse and the risks of superintelligent systems, including the potential for human extinction, stating, "We must slow the pace at which we improve the capabilities of AI models. Progress will still seem fast, and we must make wise use of the time we gain."

Amodei's comments, made in an essay posted early Saturday, emphasized the need for pacing the frontier of the AI race due to safety concerns. Donald Trump attacked Amodei over his proposal, calling him a "Perfect Little Angel" and asserting that AI only needs one guardrail. Jim Cramer also questioned Amodei's slowdown manifesto. Amodei's statements followed similar calls from other AI leaders to slow development amid concerns for humanity's future.

Some in the industry have expressed support for Amodei's call for an AI slowdown. The debate highlights differing views on the necessary speed and regulation of AI advancement, with Beijing directly hitting back at the suggestion to curb its AI progress. The Anthropic CEO's warning about AI risks has garnered attention from various international outlets. The call for a slowdown aims to rein in mounting risks associated with the rapid advancement of powerful technology.