AI giants warn of existential risks while shaping safety rules

Anthropic and OpenAI CEOs have publicly warned that advanced AI systems pose dangers to humanity, urging regulation and independent testing before release, while critics question their motives ahead of U.S. midterm elections and potential stock market listings. The companies are framing themselves as cautious leaders to attract investors and shape safety protocols in an unregulated market, experts say. They have proposed voluntary audits and paused some model training, though President Trump has dismissed AI risk warnings as a hoax. Critics argue the focus on existential threats diverts attention from current harms like AI-enabled surveillance and military use. Smaller competitors may be disadvantaged as top labs create barriers to entry, with some evaluators questioning the independence of proposed oversight mechanisms.