Fearing a Loss of Control, AI Bosses Call for Tech Slowdown

Dario Amodei supports a gradual, globally coordinated slowdown in AI development, backed by Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, and Elon Musk. Top AI CEOs are listening to researchers and employees who worry AI could get out of control relatively soon. The Trump administration has indicated they do not want regulation to hinder innovation or risk China getting ahead on AI.

The Trump administration has been testing cutting-edge AI models for up to 30 days before release to prevent cyber attacks or biological weapons. Many in Washington and the public think AI safeguards need to be mandatory and the government needs to play a stronger role. Leading AI companies want assurances from the government that they will not face antitrust trouble if they coordinate a slowdown.

Researchers' warnings about catastrophic AI consequences fall into two camps: loss of control marginalizing people, and human misuse causing economic and social breakdown. Anthropic and OpenAI are heading toward IPOs, and talk of delaying them may have financial components alongside safety and security concerns. Anthropic has its own agenda with the regulations it prefers and will likely keep fighting for them.

Houthi militants attacked Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline, which remains closed, and seized an island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Iran and its regional allies now control two of the world's most vital maritime chokepoints. The security environment for energy in the region has completely changed, with previously defendable infrastructure now highly vulnerable.

Brent crude is trading around $108 a barrel and WTI is just shy of $94.

Diesel prices are pushing above eight dollars per gallon because all energy markets are now interconnected. Some vulnerability is already priced into crude markets, but product markets remain very tight.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is pursuing a bid to make Canada an associate member of the European Union after months of private conversations.

The proposed relationship would bind strategic sectors like energy, AI, critical minerals, and defense, potentially creating a single-market-like arrangement for those industries. The arrangement would not be full EU membership but could allow frictionless movement of Canadian goods, services, and workers in targeted sectors.

Canada and the EU are discussing joint construction of underwater cables, data centers, cloud storage, and satellite networks. Brexit previously suggested no middle ground for EU membership, but the war in Ukraine and strained U.S.-European relations are driving creative thinking toward a unique relationship.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says Trump's $5,000 dividend proposal would require congressional approval, conflicting with Trump's claim that it would not.

Congress would need to act on the $5,000 dividend proposal, calling it a creative idea but noting the details must be figured out.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the chamber would cross that bridge when they come to it.

Amazon paused operations with 21 Air after a Boeing 767 operated by the carrier overshot a Miami runway, killing five people on the ground. Federal regulators are investigating the crash, and 21 Air says it is cooperating fully with the probe.

Airbnb is launching a $250 million fund for housing developments, starting with $6.4 million for 200 affordable units in Austin, Texas. The program aims to ease the housing crisis, which has become a growing political issue ahead of the midterms, and will primarily focus on the U.S.

Mall values have jumped 13% in the past year because panic over online shopping was overblown and consumers still prefer in-person shopping. Successful malls have renovated and added experiential tenants like restaurants, bars, mini golf, and luxury shopping. No new malls are being built, reducing competition for the 900 that remain across the U.S.