Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has identified China as the "toughest dilemma" in his proposal to decelerate global artificial intelligence progress, citing significant military incentives that complicate international coordination.

Amodei stated on CBS News that implementing a global speed limit on AI advancement is difficult due to the large military advantages gained from pulling ahead. He acknowledged uncertainty regarding feasibility but emphasized the necessity of attempting such measures.

Industry Response and IPO Delays

The call for a slowdown follows an essay by Amodei urging AI companies to pace their advancements amid warnings of catastrophic risks. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman supported the proposal, stating the need to "pace the frontier." Consequently, OpenAI has decided to delay its initial public offering plans for 2026 due to unresolved safety concerns and alignment challenges.

Other industry leaders have also backed the initiative:

• Demis Hassabis of Alphabet Inc.'s Google DeepMind (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) supports the proposal.
• Elon Musk, CEO of Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: SPCX), reiterated warnings about AI risks, describing artificial general intelligence as potentially more dangerous than nuclear weapons.
• Former White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks supported the slowdown but urged companies to acknowledge their motivations.

What the Numbers Show

A divergence exists between the proposed regulatory approach and geopolitical reality. While Amodei calls for coordinated global action, analyst Dan Ives noted that China is unlikely to slow down its AI advancements. This suggests that unilateral or Western-led slowdowns may face asymmetric competitive pressure, as the primary rival in the AI race does not appear aligned with the proposed deceleration framework.

Growing Safety Concerns

The push for caution comes as Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned over concerns about the company's approach. Former President Barack Obama has called for increased oversight of AI, stressing the need for a clear policy framework to manage potential dangers.

Amodei's three-step plan includes third-party evaluations and coordination between AI companies and governments. The debate highlights the tension between rapid technological deployment and long-term safety alignment in the global AI sector.

Former White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks accused ex-Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon of orchestrating a publicity campaign regarding his resignation. Sacks' comments join those of billionaire Bill Ackman, who described the allegations as "interesting" amid claims of a coordinated push for stricter AI regulation.

Allegations of Coordinated Campaign

Sacks criticized Coxon on the All-In Podcast, questioning the substance of his claims. He noted that Coxon canceled a planned interview hours before it was scheduled, suggesting he may have realized "it would be a tough interview." Sacks challenged Coxon to provide data or leaked information beyond what was already public, stating, "This is all just vibes from him."

Sacks pointed out that Coxon’s social media account appeared blank prior to the resignation thread, yet gained a massive audience within a day. He named three advocacy groups—Encode AI, the AI Policy Network, and the AI Futures Project—that amplified the post within 15 minutes. Sacks tied these groups to funding from Dustin Moskovitz, an Anthropic Series A investor, calling it a "tight-knit community" that jumped on the tweet.

Bill Ackman also weighed in, describing the allegations surrounding Coxon’s departure as "interesting." Parker Thayer of the Capital Research Center previously suggested the episode showed signs of a sophisticated PR operation aimed at gaining Democratic support for AI regulation.

Industry Context and IPO Implications

Coxon resigned on Tuesday, accusing Anthropic and OpenAI of racing toward self-improving superintelligence without adequate safeguards. Anthropic alignment lead Evan Hubinger supported Coxon’s concerns, citing a greater than 10% chance of AI causing human extinction within a decade. However, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called Coxon’s comments "outlandish and deeply untrue" during a Goldman Sachs technology conference.

The dispute arises as Anthropic pursues a reported $2 trillion initial public offering. Panelists on the podcast argued that if safety staff privately believe the technology poses existential risk, it creates a disclosure problem for Securities and Exchange Commission filings and exposes the company to product-liability claims. Senator Bernie Sanders recently urged AI labs to slow development, warning of congressional intervention if companies fail to establish controls.