US Lawmakers Call AI Executives' Boom-and-Doom Rhetoric a Political Burden

U.S. lawmakers and White House advisers said on Oct. 24 that AI industry leaders' frequent pronouncements about AI-driven prosperity or catastrophe have become a political burden. According to Axios, Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California criticized AI executives for wavering statements and called OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and others untrustworthy.

Officials said AI executives often swing between "boom" and "doom" narratives, sometimes within the same public appearance, adding to public unease about the technology. Curtis said it was hard to imagine a group more disconnected from ordinary Americans. Khanna specifically pointed to Altman, saying "you cannot trust billionaires to make decisions that keep us safe."

Earlier in October, Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio sent a letter to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, criticizing his "panic-inducing" rhetoric. Amodei has previously warned that AI could eliminate many entry-level white-collar jobs within years, while also predicting AI could compress medical progress to 5-10 years and extend human lifespan to 150.

Washington's frustration also extends to AI companies' handling of safety disclosures and regulation. Anthropic was accused of delaying notification of a security incident affecting U.S. government websites, and later retracted parts of a proposed AI safety bill after controversy. OpenAI's lobbying strategy has also drawn criticism. Both companies are reportedly under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. A recent poll found most Americans believe AI does more harm than good.