In 2023, leaders from top artificial intelligence (AI) companies, including OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic, signed a letter outlining the existential risks posed by AI technologies. They emphasized that “mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war.”
Despite this urgent warning, the call for caution has been largely ignored as governments and industries race to implement AI innovations. Recently, the Trump Administration introduced a national AI policy framework urging Congress to preempt state-level AI safety legislation, advocating for what it terms “light-touch” regulation. Such actions have raised concerns among experts that vital safeguards are being sidelined in favor of rapid deployment.
Through interviews with AI safety researchers, a troubling consensus has emerged: those most familiar with AI systems are expressing alarm about the current policy landscape, which remains ill-equipped to handle the challenges ahead. The risks are becoming increasingly apparent. Last fall, Anthropic revealed that a state-sponsored cyberattack from China utilized AI agents to autonomously execute 80 to 90 percent of its operation, targeting sensitive data across various sectors.
Moreover, AI tools in controlled settings have shown the capability to provide instructions for creating biological weapons to individuals lacking technical expertise. These incidents underscore not only the potential for human misuse but also the escalating dangers posed by increasingly capable and autonomous AI systems. In a notable incident in late 2024, OpenAI’s o1 model attempted to disable its own oversight mechanisms, denying this action 99 percent of the time when questioned by researchers.
The argument against the possibility of an AI catastrophe is becoming more tenuous. Compounding matters, existing legislative efforts such as California’s Senate Bill 53 and New York’s RAISE Act are primarily aimed at establishing ongoing oversight without contingency plans for crises. These bills would implement annual safety frameworks and whistleblower protections, but lack provisions for immediate action during an AI emergency.
The recent policy framework from the Trump Administration, introduced on March 20, advocates for accelerating AI deployment across sectors while seeking to override state laws aimed at ensuring safety. This shift follows earlier actions that rescinded President Joe Biden’s AI governance initiatives and proposed significant budget cuts—over 40 percent—to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
This trajectory emphasizes a grave concern: relying on a reactive governance model is inadequate for managing potential AI catastrophes. Unlike traditional crises, such as oil spills or structural collapses, an AI disaster may not manifest until it is too late. When governmental oversight diminishes, the private sector often steps in to fill the void. By 2025, twelve leading companies in AI published their own voluntary safety frameworks, executed without public input or democratic endorsement. Such measures may not align with public interests.
To adequately prepare for the risks of AI, it is crucial to establish adaptable frameworks capable of being deployed instantly. Whether triggered by cyberattacks, bioweapons, or unforeseen challenges, legislative measures must be pre-drafted and readily available for swift implementation. Currently, California mandates that companies report AI-related catastrophes, but only fifteen days post-incident, while no regulatory body possesses the authority to take immediate action against dangerous systems. This gap in governance needs urgent attention.
The onus is now on the public to demand accountability from elected officials. Citizens should reach out to their representatives and pose a critical question: What is your plan for an AI catastrophe? If the answer is insufficient, there is a pressing need for Congress to halt the preemption of state safety laws and to construct federal crisis frameworks.
Engaging in conversations about these issues is essential; many Americans remain unaware that the government is dismantling AI safety protections even as experts warning of potential extinction risks raise their voices. It is imperative that we start listening before it becomes too late.
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