AI giants turn safety warnings into competitive advantage, Pitchbook analyst says

AI giants are using safety warnings about existential risks to build competitive advantages and attract investors ahead of public offerings, according to Pitchbook analyst Harrison Rolfes. The strategy positions them as cautious market leaders while potentially blocking smaller competitors. Anthropic and OpenAI CEOs have called for regulation and independent testing of advanced models, shaping policy discussions before U.S. midterm elections. Critics note this focus deprioritizes current risks like AI in warfare, while companies choose their own auditors since no universal standards exist. President Trump has dismissed AI risk warnings as a hoax, and some firms like Nvidia reject slowdown calls. Former OpenAI employee Daniel Kokotajlo fears the rhetoric redirects political will away from meaningful safety action, warning against catastrophic outcomes.