Sam Altman says "I disagree, but I understand the perspective" on single‑lab AI control
“I disagree, but I understand the perspective of people who are like, 'This technology is going to get so powerful, and it's so dangerous, that a single lab in San Francisco should have it and make sure nothing bad happens, and kind of figure out how to dole out the benefits,'”
Reported October 4, 2026 by businessinsider.com. Checked word for word against that report.
In an interview with POLITICO's Decoded, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described an ongoing disagreement with Anthropic over rules for artificial intelligence. He said OpenAI favors broad public access and accepts some hazards for the technology's gains, while Anthropic has long been viewed as the industry's leading advocate for stricter oversight. The companies have recently converged: OpenAI endorsed stricter state laws, backed a House measure requiring independent safety checks, and Altman supported Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's push to slow the most advanced models. Still, Altman distinguished his position. He rejected the view that one company should control a powerful AI system to prevent disasters and allocate its rewards, saying he comprehends that argument but considers the bargain wrong, and he said he does not accept extreme risks, such as AI slipping beyond human control.
- businessinsider.com ↗︎04 OCT 2026