Artificial Intelligence
Lonsdale says AI firms are shaping policy
Joe Lonsdale told a Reuters event in Austin that major AI companies were trying to influence regulation through existential-risk warnings, while also discussing defence deals, autonomous weapons and Pentagon speculation.
- Joe Lonsdale told a Reuters event in Austin that some leading AI companies were using warnings about existential AI risk to influence public policy.
- He said people close to Anthropic and at OpenAI were funding outside groups that wanted stronger AI regulation.
- Lonsdale also said Anthropic had assembled exceptional talent and that he was proud to be an investor in the company.
- He said some of the companies he backed were likely to buy Ukrainian defence firms and that autonomous weapons would remain under military accountability.
- Reuters reported that he had been mentioned as a possible Pentagon candidate, but he said his focus was on his family and businesses.
Joe Lonsdale, an investor in Anthropic and co-founder of Palantir, told a Reuters event in Austin on Friday that some major artificial intelligence companies were trying to influence policy by warning about existential risk. He said that approach was dangerous and that he did not want a small group to shape government policy on AI.
Lonsdale said people close to Anthropic and at OpenAI were supporting outside groups that wanted tighter regulation. He argued that such efforts could help a few leading companies set the rules of the industry and strengthen their market position.
He then softened the criticism by praising Anthropic's staff and saying he was proud to invest in the company. Lonsdale said it had become a leader in the AI race and that it was hard to second-guess a top-performing company.
Turning to defence, Lonsdale said firms he backed were likely to buy some Ukrainian defence companies. He said those businesses had advanced quickly during Russia's war in Ukraine and that there was scope for closer partnerships and acquisitions.
On autonomous weapons, Lonsdale said they would be part of future warfare but that responsibility should stay with military leaders. Reuters also noted that he had recently been mentioned as a possible senior Pentagon figure, although he said family and business remained his priority.
Named in this story
People
- Joe Lonsdale
- Investor in Anthropic who criticised AI policy efforts
- Dario Amodei
- Anthropic chief executive who had called for slower model development
- Sam Altman
- OpenAI chief executive who had called for slower model development
- Elon Musk
- SpaceX head who had called for slower model development
- Steve Feinberg
- Deputy Defense Secretary whose possible replacement was reviewed
Companies
- Anthropic
- AI company Lonsdale invested in and praised
- Palantir
- Technology company co-founded by Lonsdale
- 8VC
- Venture capital firm founded by Lonsdale
- OpenAI
- AI company Lonsdale said was involved in the push
- SpaceX
- Company headed by Musk
- Anduril
- Defence technology firm Lonsdale said he had backed
Governments and agencies
- Pentagon
- US defence department mentioned as a possible future role for Lonsdale
- White House
- Administration that reviewed replacements for Steve Feinberg
- US military
- Body whose preliminary investigation Reuters said found US forces were likely responsible
Places
- Ukraine
- Country whose defence firms Lonsdale said might be bought
- Russia
- Country whose war in Ukraine Lonsdale referred to
- Iran
- Country where the school strike was cited
- Minab
- City where the school strike occurred
How the source tells it
The piece is a straightforward Reuters report with quoted criticism and no sustained editorial colouring.
No emotive framing was found in the original.