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OpenAI and Anthropic AI safety slowdown plans ignite tensions internally as staff push back
Australian Financial Review
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- Date Published
- 17 Sept 2026
- Priority Score
- 4
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 17 Sept 2026, 12:00 am
Authors (1)
Description
Staff at the Silicon Valley companies are baulking at suggestions from their bosses that outsiders evaluate their work as part of the slowdown.
Summary
Internal friction at leading frontier AI labs highlights the operational difficulties of implementing safety protocols designed to mitigate catastrophic risks. While CEOs Dario Amodei and Sam Altman have committed to slowing development to avert disastrous consequences, technical staff are reportedly resisting external evaluations and security oversight. This conflict underscores the tension between rapid capability advancement and the governance frameworks necessary for global AI safety, particularly regarding third-party auditing of high-risk models.
Body
WorldNorth AmericaAIPrint articleCristina CriddleUpdated Sep 17, 2026 – 9.26am, first published at 8.34amSan Francisco | Bold promises by the bosses of Anthropic and OpenAI to constrain artificial intelligence development are sparking tensions inside the two companies over security and other concerns, highlighting the practical challenges of turning rhetoric into reality.Staff at the makers of Claude and ChatGPT are rushing to implement recommendations from their respective chief executives, Dario Amodei and Sam Altman, to slow AI’s rate of progress to avert disastrous consequences, following a series of dire warnings from researchers.Loading...Financial TimesSaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginRead MoreAIAnthropicOpenAIWorkplace disputesCorporate ethicsUSAFetching latest articles