Former Anthropic researcher says AI staff are genuinely frightened for humanity's future as the sector grapples with unprecedented energy consumption and…
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A former Anthropic researcher has told the BBC that AI staff are genuinely frightened for humanity's future, coinciding with calls from the AI firm's leadership to slow development due to serious risks. The revelations highlight deepening internal divisions within the AI industry as companies push forward with increasingly powerful systems.
The concerns emerge alongside reporting by Wired on the massive energy appetite of agentic AI systems. Silicon Valley is pivoting from chatbot queries toward resource-intensive AI agents, driving an unprecedented data center buildout to meet computational demands. This shift poses significant challenges for sustainability and infrastructure planning.
In a separate development, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced China will take the lead in fostering AI and technology cooperation among BRICS countries, signaling a geopolitical dimension to AI development that could shape global standards and access.
Meanwhile, a countertrend is gaining traction. The Financial Times reports that non-digital pursuits including journaling, sudoku, puzzle books, fountain pens, Warhammer, and film cameras are staging a comeback as part of what some are calling an anti-AI portfolio approach to life.
Sources: 1. Vanguard Nigeria: 5 Android phones that can compete with the new iPhone 18 Pro — https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/09/5-android-phones-that-can-compete-with-the-new-iphone-18-pro/ (src1) 2.