Senators on Capitol Hill were split on Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates’ warning that artificial intelligence (AI) could lead to „a billion deaths“ amid growing controversy over the technology’s direction and rapid growth.
Gates is one of several industry giants who have sounded the alarm on AI’s advancements, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. President Donald Trump has pushed back on calls to slow down AI development, arguing a rollback could give an advantage to competitors in the AI race like China.
Gates made the claim on NBC’s „Meet the Press“ last week when he was asked whether AI could wipe out humanity — as some in the industry have warned is a possibility that could happen within a decade.
GOP LAWMAKERS SMELL SOMETHING ELSE BEHIND BIG TECH’S AI DOOMSDAY WARNINGS: ‘SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON’
„I think that’s incredibly irresponsible,“ Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital.
„That’s not as dire as some of the AI officials who have suggested that there was a 10 percent chance of wiping out all of humanity,“ Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said. „This is something we have to take very seriously.“
„What worries me about that prediction is that the Republicans who are in control of the House and the Senate say ‘everybody go home and let AI do whatever they want to do,’“ Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said.
Cornyn claimed that Gates’ warning risks fueling calls for regulations that could ultimately benefit the biggest players in the AI industry while crowding out smaller competitors.
„I mean, he’s fearmongering,“ Cornyn said. „And I worry that it’s in pursuit of what’s sometimes called regulatory capture, that the government and the public will demand regulation while a handful of prime AI companies are in control and crowd out any competitors.“
WATCH: AI SAFETY SCARE SPARKS CAP HILL FIGHT OVER GUARDRAILS: ‘CHINA’S GOING TO EAT OUR LUNCH’
King, however, argued the competition between tech companies gives reason why the government should implement safeguards.
„The president seems to think, well, industry will regulate itself. The government shouldn’t be involved,“ King said. „The problem with that is that these companies are engaged in an intense competition.“
He claimed that companies could then be reluctant to voluntarily slow development or impose their own safeguards if doing so risks allowing competitors to pull ahead in the industry.
„They’re gonna be forced to make a decision: Should we slow down and put in our own safeguards?“ King explained. „But if we do, our competitor across the street won’t and [will] get ahead of us, or China will get ahead of us.“
Republican senators also warned about another concern surrounding the rapid development of AI: Could China pull ahead?
BEYOND KILLER ROBOTS: CHINA’S REAL AI THREAT TO AMERICA IS ALREADY HERE, EXPERTS WARN
„Look, I think we need to use common sense,“ Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said. „So we want to develop it. Obviously, we need to stay ahead of adversaries like China, but we need to do it safely. „
„I think the administration is generally on the right track in not trying to put a heavy hand on this technology, which is going to be fundamental to our economy and our national security,“ Cornyn said.
The conversations around AI ramped up this month, shortly before both the House and Senate went on recess leading up to the midterm elections. Many Democrats called for Congress to stay in session to address the concerns around AI and work to get legislation that enacts safeguards.
„We have a responsibility, but not the Republicans,“ Warren said. „They say ‘send everybody home,’ because Donald Trump doesn’t want to do anything about AI.“
WATCH: GOP senators skeptical of Bill Gates’ ‘fearmongering’ AI warning as Dems sound alarm 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-10-05 11:23:11
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
