Anthropic CEO warns tech titans not to dismiss the public's AI concerns: 'You're going to get a mob coming for you' (www.businessinsider.com)

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has issued a stark warning to fellow tech leaders, urging them to take public concerns about AI seriously to prevent backlash. Amodei emphasized that the narrative around AI creating vast wealth for a select few could provoke significant public discontent, leading to what he termed a "mob" coming for those who ignore these apprehensions. This advisory follows the release of his extensive 19,000-word essay, "The Adolescence of Technology," where he outlines a vision of AI as a major civilizational challenge, stressing the need for new tax policies capable of redistributing wealth generated by this technology. He advocates for more progressive taxation that reflects the immense wealth potential of AI and has advised lawmakers on the importance of AI transparency and limiting chip exports to China. While acknowledging public concerns, Amodei cautions against misdirected anxiety, suggesting that issues like water usage in data centers are overstated. Instead, he calls for a broader focus on how the benefits of AI can be equitably shared, highlighting the importance of addressing these societal challenges proactively before poorly designed policies take hold.