AI researcher quits Anthropic, warns AI could kill us all by decade's end

In early September 2026, Jacob Coxon, a 27-year-old researcher who worked at both Anthropic and OpenAI, resigned from Anthropic, saying he fears that artificial intelligence could "kill us all" by the end of the decade. He told the press that many developers in the field share this belief, and he accused the companies of not "acting responsibly." Coxon's resignation has drawn attention because he was an insider at two of the most prominent AI labs.

His warning has been echoed by some current team leaders at Anthropic, who reportedly agree with his assessment. The story has sparked widespread media coverage, though some headlines also touch on other AI-related news, such as OpenAI's collaboration with Samsung on chips and a plagiarism controversy, which are separate from Coxon's main message.