Expert Warns on AI Regulatory Frontline

Key Summary

Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon will testify at a New York City Council hearing on AI safety risks on October 5, 2026. The hearing, which involves all 51 council members, is the first time a US legislative body has compelled sworn testimony on AI safety. Coxon, who resigned from Anthropic around September 8-9, 2026, has characterized AI companies as "gambling with our lives" and warned that the technology could kill everyone by the end of the decade. He joins representatives from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Meta, including Dario Amodei, Sam Altman, Sundar Pichai, and Mark Zuckerberg, who will also testify. Three proposed legislative measures will be discussed, including requiring third-party validation of AI systems, creating nation-leading whistleblower incentives, and giving individuals the right to sue for damages caused by AI systems.