Global artificial intelligence stocks came under pressure on Monday after several leading AI executives called for a slower pace of development, citing growing concerns over safety and the potential risks posed by increasingly powerful systems.
The sell-off spread across major technology markets. SoftBank shares fell sharply in Japan, while South Korea’s Kospi declined and chipmakers including SK Hynix and ASML recorded significant losses. U.S. technology stocks also faced pressure, with Nasdaq futures pointing lower.
The market reaction followed a warning from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who argued that AI companies should give safety measures more time to keep pace with advances in model capabilities. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, xAI chief Elon Musk and Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis have expressed support for the call.
Investors are increasingly concerned that a coordinated slowdown could affect the massive spending on AI chips, data centers and other infrastructure that has fueled the sector’s rapid growth. However, analysts note that intense competition between companies and countries, particularly the United States and China, could make a significant slowdown difficult to achieve.
The debate highlights a growing tension within the AI industry between maintaining rapid technological progress and ensuring that safety, regulation and oversight keep pace with increasingly capable AI systems.
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