CBS News
· collected 2026-09-14 · by Mary Cunningham, Jo Ling Kent, Aimee Picchi
David Sacks, a former technology adviser to President Trump, told CBS News that concerns about artificial intelligence posing an existential threat are exaggerated. He argued that while risks exist, they should be managed without overreacting or halting progress, emphasizing the responsibility of AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI to ensure their products are safe. Sacks dismissed the need for government intervention and urged these firms to take proactive steps in mitigating potential dangers associated with advanced AI technologies.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
David Sacks, a key adviser to former President Trump on technology, told CBS News that concerns about artificial intelligence's potential threat to humanity are overblown. He suggested that while caution is necessary, development of AI should continue. Sacks warned against political actors amplifying fears during an election season and called for a more rational approach.
Sacks' comments come amid growing worries about advanced AI platforms potentially causing harm. On September 8, Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher, cautioned that both Anthropic and OpenAI might be endangering humanity by developing self-improving "superintelligence." In response to these concerns, Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, acknowledged real dangers associated with AI and admitted the industry had not been transparent about its risks.
Sacks emphasized that companies like Anthropic and OpenAI must ensure their technology is safe to protect the public. He stressed that if they cannot control the technology, development should be halted.
Written for “AI Safety Regulations” on 2026-09-15,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
David Sacks, a key adviser to President Trump on technology, told CBS News he believes that fears about artificial intelligence's potential threat to humanity are overblown and that, while caution is warranted, development of AI should continue.
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development → tell → AI
"I think this is becoming a panic," he told CBS News senior business and technology correspondent Jo Ling Kent.
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he → think → Kent
"We're in an election season, and there is an incentive for political actors to try and amplify the fear.
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actors → be → fear
And I think this is a moment to really calm down a little bit and look at the issue rationally."
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this → think → issue
Sacks' comments come amid mounting concerns that advanced AI platforms could inflict
.
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platforms → come → that
On Sept. 8, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon warned that Anthropic and OpenAI are " " by developing self-improving "superintelligence.
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Anthropic → warn → superintelligence
"Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei told CBS News "Sunday Morning" that "there are real dangers" with AI, adding that the "industry lied to people about the fact that this technology had risks."
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technology → tell → risks
"If you can't control it, then don't do it"
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you → control → it
In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Sacks placed the onus on Anthropic, OpenAI and other large language model developers to protect the public from AI, saying it is the companies' responsibility to ensure the tech is safe.
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tech → place → AI
"First and foremost, it is on them to make their products safe," he said.
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he → make → them
"They should tell us how they should do that.
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they → tell → that
If they can't do that, they should step aside for people who can do that.
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who → do → that
"
"What they should not be doing is making the public afraid that they're doing a bad job," added Sacks, who is co-chair of Mr. Trump's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
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who → do → Science
He stepped down from his role as the president's AI and cryptocurrency czar in May.
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He → step → May
AI companies also shouldn't require government intervention to safeguard the public from harm, Sacks said.
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Sacks → require → harm
"Why are you acting like this is something that you can't control?" he said in reference to Amodei.
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he → act → Amodei
"If you can't control it, then don't do it."
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you → control → it
"Now, look at the end of the day, I think these risks can be managed, and I do not want to stop.
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I → look → day
I want to proceed safely," Sacks added.
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Sacks → want → ?
As a venture capitalist, Sacks has invested in some of tech's biggest companies, including Airbnb, SpaceX and Facebook, according to his bio at Craft Ventures, the investment firm he co-founded.
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he → invest → Ventures
Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other tech leaders have called on the industry to slow the development of AI amid fears that the rapidly advancing technology could inflict serious harm on humanity.
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technology → call → humanity
Their calls followed growing concerns over superintelligence, a theoretical stage in AI's development in which it could outperform humans at every cognitive task, a milestone some researchers say could be reached in one to 10 years.
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researchers → follow → years
Not everyone is convinced that AI companies should pause, or even delay, the development of frontier models.
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companies → convince → models
That includes President Trump, who on
for stronger guardrails around AI development and claimed the industry is already sufficiently regulated.
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industry → include → development
Sacks echoed that view, arguing that constraining AI development risks putting the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage with China, which has rapidly closed the gap with American AI players.
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which → echo → players
If "we just pause all development, they will race ahead.
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they → pause → development
It's pretty clear they're not going to stop," Sacks said.
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Sacks → go → ?
The Aporia
