Altman Joins Calls to Pace AI Development, Says Safety May Require Slower Progress

OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has backed calls to pace the development of artificial intelligence so advances in the technology do not outstrip humanity’s ability to control it.

Bloomberg reported on September 14 that Altman wrote on X a day earlier that AI development needs “pacing” to ensure safety. His comments echoed recent arguments from Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei and Elon Musk, the chief executive of xAI and SpaceX, that AI development may need to be slowed.

“No matter how intense competitive pressure in the US becomes, it should not justify reckless development or allow AI capabilities to get ahead of alignment and monitoring capacity,” Altman wrote. He added that “pacing” does not mean a halt, making clear he was not calling for an end to AI progress itself.

He also emphasized that the costs of putting safety first are worth bearing if doing so helps preserve trust that US companies are developing increasingly advanced AI responsibly.

Earlier this month, Altman told OpenAI employees that the company could slow the pace of technological progress if necessary to better understand the risks of advanced AI. He also confirmed that OpenAI does not plan to pursue an initial public offering in 2026 as it prioritizes safety issues.

As calls to slow AI development spread, related stocks weakened. In Japan, shares of SoftBank Group, a major OpenAI investor, plunged 13% that day. In South Korea, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix each fell more than 4%.

Altman also reaffirmed his support for a US federal framework for AI regulation. He said support from Washington is needed for international coordination, given concerns that Chinese rivals may not follow any slowdown by US companies.