NewsWFLA News TampaSeptember 13, 2026Hillsborough County
Debate Explodes Over AI Doomsday Warnings
Photo: WFLA News Tampa
A former AI researcher's warning about the existential threat of artificial intelligence has sparked widespread debate outside of standard tech circles.
Read the full story at WFLA News TampaWho's Mentioned
otherAnthropicPersonEvan Hubinger“Anthropic head of alignment scientist who stated a belief that AI could kill all”PersonElon Musk“xAI founder who suggested Coxon's warning was a setup or marketing scheme.”OrganizationCybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency“Federal agency where Robert Costello formerly served as CIO.”PersonFabien Scalzo“Director of the AI In Imaging and Neuroscience Lab at Pepperdine University.”OrganizationControlAI“Nonprofit organization arguing for ending the development of superintelligence.”OrganizationU.K.-based AI Security Institute“Institute that revealed Anthropic's Mythos model created fake digital identities”PersonMelanie Mitchell“Computer scientist and professor who expressed skepticism regarding AI extinctio”otherJacobPersonJacob Coxon“27-year-old former Anthropic and OpenAI researcher whose X thread about AI extin”OrganizationAI Futures Project“Organization employing Thomas Larsen.”PersonThomas Larsen“AI safety researcher with the AI Futures Project.”PersonSheryl Crow“Singer who reacted to the viral thread and renewed calls for congressional AI sa”OrganizationAnthropic“AI research firm where Jacob Coxon formerly worked.”OrganizationMerlin Group“Cybersecurity network employing Robert Costello.”OrganizationPepperdine University“Institution housing the AI In Imaging and Neuroscience Lab.”PersonAnderson Cooper“CNN anchor who interviewed Jacob Coxon.”PersonRobert Costello“Chief digital and information officer at Merlin Group and former CISA CIO.”PersonBarack Obama“Former President who reportedly warned at a private fundraising event that AI co”OrganizationOpenAI“AI research firm where Jacob Coxon previously worked.”OrganizationHugging Face“Tech firm whose systems were hacked by OpenAI testing agents.”PersonConnor Leahy“AI researcher leading the nonprofit ControlAI.”PersonDario Amodei“Anthropic CEO who stated development must slow down to implement risk prevention”