Are big AI companies gambling with our lives? : Consider This from NPR

Consider This from NPR NPR Consider This from NPR NPR App Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music iHeart Radio RSS link Sign up for the [TITLE] Newsletter Get perks with [Podcast Title]+ Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed. LEARN MORE --> Are big AI companies gambling with our lives? September 10, 2026 5:24 PM ET Are big AI companies gambling with our lives? Listen · 9:44 9:44 Toggle more options Download Embed Embed < iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5963496/nx-s1-mx-5963496-1" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> In this illustration, the Claude AI app is seen in the app store on a phone on February 16, 2026 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images The warning in former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon’s resignation announcement is stark. “The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade,” he writes. “No other human activity poses this level of danger.” Coxon is urging Anthropic and other big artificial intelligence companies to slow their development of super intelligent agents. He says the current race dynamic could threaten human existence. Coxon talks with NPR's Scott Detrow about why he’s worried and what he hopes will change. This episode was produced by Connor Donevan and Jeffrey Pierre, with audio engineering by Hannah Gluvna. Our director is Jonas Adams. It was edited by Patrick Jarenwattananon Tinbete Ermyas. Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org . NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR. Facebook Flipboard Email