Global AI-linked stocks fell sharply on Monday. Industry leaders called for a deliberate slowdown in development due to escalating safety and existential risks.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay warning that AI poses significant dangers without new safety measures. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI’s Elon Musk publicly supported the call to slow innovation.
The warnings introduced immediate headwinds for a sector that has driven market gains for over a year. Sam Altman also announced that OpenAI will not proceed with its anticipated 2026 IPO to prioritize safety over commercialization.
The news triggered a sell-off in Asian tech markets. Major investors like SoftBank and chipmakers including SK Hynix experienced significant declines.