Congress Debates AI Safety as Tech Leaders Warn of Risks

Key Takeaways

• Congress debates AI safety regulations while President Trump and Vice President JD Vance resist strict rules, fearing they will slow progress.
• Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have urged companies to slow down development to ensure safety.
• President Trump dismissed fears of AI destroying humanity as a hoax on social media, contrasting with industry leaders like Elon Musk.
• 84% of communications professionals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area use AI, but only 31% have clear guidelines for its use.
• Experts warn that AI could be used to create dangerous biological weapons, prompting calls for a ban on such applications.
• Fujitsu announced it will sell its new AI processor, Monaka, worldwide in November, offering twice the performance of standard CPUs.
• Syracuse University launched a free AI Literacy Digital Badge to teach students how to use AI responsibly and evaluate information.
• High school students argue that schools should teach AI usage rather than banning tools like ChatGPT entirely.
• Nepal is updating its school curriculum to include artificial intelligence and indigenous knowledge to prepare students for modern challenges.
• Recent security breaches at Hugging Face, OpenAI, and Anthropic highlight the need for better anticipatory skills in AI safety.

Congress debates AI safety as fears grow

Congress is facing intense pressure to regulate artificial intelligence after industry leaders warned the technology could harm humanity. President Trump argues against strict rules, fearing they will slow progress and let China win the AI race. House Speaker Mike Johnson agrees that rushing into regulation could be dangerous, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calls for urgent action. Tech figures like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have urged companies to slow down to ensure safety. Former researcher Jacob Coxon also warned that superhuman AI systems could soon acquire too much power. The debate continues as lawmakers prepare for the November midterm elections.

AI CEOs want to slow down but government resists

Leading artificial intelligence companies are asking the government to slow down development to manage safety risks. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei proposed a plan to pace the frontier so companies can align AI models with human intent before they become too powerful. Many former employees support this call, warning that unchecked AI could lead to a concentration of power and loss of control. However, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance have expressed skepticism, with Trump calling the fears a hoax. The administration believes that strong leadership and market forces are better than government regulation. This disagreement has created a split between tech leaders and federal officials on how to handle the rapid growth of AI.

Trump dismisses AI dangers and rejects regulation

President Trump is downplaying warnings about artificial intelligence and resisting calls for new government regulations. He told reporters that fears of AI destroying humanity are overblown and called them a hoax on social media. The President believes that a strong leader is the only control needed and that regulation is unnecessary. His stance puts him at odds with tech industry leaders like Elon Musk and Sam Altman, who support the need for safety measures. Stock markets reacted negatively to the growing calls for AI regulation, with major indices dropping on Monday. Political strategists note that public concern about AI is rising, which could pressure Republicans to change their position before the next election cycle.

Dallas forum explores AI ethics for communicators

Story & Strategy and Texas Tech University are partnering to host a forum on how communicators can lead the shift toward artificial intelligence. The event, called the Pro Institute, will take place on October 22 and feature author Bob Hutchins discussing trust and leadership. A recent report found that 84% of communications professionals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area use AI, but only 31% have clear guidelines for its use. Many organizations rely on informal rules or have no guidelines at all, creating a gap between adoption and governance. The forum aims to help professionals navigate these challenges while maintaining ethical standards and transparency. Attendees can join the discussion in person or virtually to learn how to manage AI responsibly in their workplaces.

Experts warn AI could enable biological weapons

A growing fear among experts is that artificial intelligence could be used to create dangerous biological weapons. In April, biosecurity experts warned about this risk, and in August, scientists reported using AI to design new pathogens. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for a ban on using AI to produce biological weapons to prevent bad actors from unleashing plagues. These developments have raised concerns that AI could allow malicious groups to create unknown threats to the world. The technology's ability to accelerate research means that the risks of misuse are increasing rapidly. Experts argue that strict controls are necessary to prevent AI from being used for such harmful purposes.

Fujitsu launches Japan-made AI chip Monaka globally

Fujitsu announced it will start selling its new AI processor, Monaka, worldwide in November. This Japan-made chip is designed to be more power efficient than current graphics processing units used by competitors like Nvidia. The processor offers twice the performance of standard central processing units while using half the electricity and servers. Production is currently handled by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, with future manufacturing potentially moving to Rapidus Corp. Servers featuring Monaka will be built in Ishikawa Prefecture and sold to customers in the United States, Asia, Japan, and Europe.

AI and metasurfaces combine for smarter optical systems

A new review explores how artificial intelligence and metasurfaces work together to create advanced optical systems. AI helps design these tiny nanostructures, while metasurfaces allow light to perform complex computing tasks faster than traditional electronics. This partnership leads to intelligent nanophotonics and optical intelligence, which are essential for handling the growing volume of visual data. The technology offers ultrafast operation and compact designs that fit on a chip scale. Experts believe this convergence will drive the next generation of highly intelligent photonic systems.

Syracuse University launches AI literacy digital badge

Syracuse University and the College of Arts and Sciences introduced a new digital badge to teach students how to use AI responsibly. The AI Literacy Digital Badge is a free, self-paced online program where each module takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete. Students learn to evaluate AI-generated information and understand how these tools work across different academic fields. The program emphasizes human skills like critical thinking and ethical judgment alongside technical knowledge. Participants can add this credential to their résumés and LinkedIn profiles to show employers they are ready for an AI-enabled workforce.

Students need AI education instead of school bans

High school students argue that schools should teach them how to use AI rather than banning the technology entirely. Many students already use tools like ChatGPT for schoolwork, but some have forgotten how to write essays without assistance. Experts suggest that banning AI leaves students unable to spot bias or verify facts, which are crucial skills for the future workforce. Some districts are already teaching prompt engineering and ethical usage, but others rely on simple warnings that do not work. The authors urge legislators to pass laws requiring AI literacy standards as a graduation requirement to prepare young people for the new economy.

Experts urge better anticipation skills for AI safety

Industry leaders like Dario Amodei and Sam Altman argue that the AI industry must improve its ability to anticipate future risks. Recent security breaches at companies like Hugging Face, OpenAI, and Anthropic happened because systems behaved in ways designers did not expect. These incidents show that simply imagining risks is not enough; teams must practice anticipatory thinking as a deliberate skill. This involves testing assumptions and asking what happens if safety constraints disappear. Experts believe that developing this skill during slowdowns in AI development will help prevent future cyber attacks and bioterrorism threats.

Cleveland Clinic launches AI tools for spine surgery

Cleveland Clinic is using artificial intelligence to improve spine surgery safety and patient care. Dr. Habboub leads a team that built the Morning Surgery Briefing, which analyzes data from 2.6 million surgeries to predict risks like kidney injury. This tool helps surgeons adjust care plans before operations starting in March 2026. The clinic is also developing the Quality of Life Continuum to track patient recovery between clinic visits using wearable devices and other data. These projects will expand when the new 1-million-square-foot Neurological Institute opens in early 2027.

Nepal updates school curriculum with AI and local knowledge

Nepal is starting a nationwide update to its school curriculum that includes artificial intelligence and indigenous knowledge. The new plan also focuses on teaching disaster preparedness and entrepreneurship skills to students. Officials are holding consultations across the country to shape these changes. This overhaul aims to better prepare students for modern challenges while respecting local traditions. The updates reflect a broader effort to modernize education in the nation.

Sources

• Congress faces frenzy of AI fears: ‘The monster is loose’
• AI leaders call for slowing down. The government doesn't want to
• As AI fears spike, Trump bats down calls for regulation
• Story and Strategy, Texas Tech Partner to Bring AI Leadership Forum to DFW Communicators
• Is A.I. Raising the Chances of Biological Warfare?
• Fujitsu set to launch global sales of Japan-made AI chip 'Monaka'
• Mutual Empowerment Of Artificial Intelligence And Metasurfaces: Intelligent Nanophotonics And Optical Intelligence
• Digital Badge Helps Students Use AI Responsibly
• Schools Should Help Students Navigate AI, Not Ban It
• Cyber attacks? Bioterrorism? To ‘Pace the Frontier’ of AI effectively, we must improve our anticipatory thinking
• Promise and Progress in Using AI and Analytics to Improve Spine Surgery Practice
• Nepal begins overhaul of school curriculum, with AI and indigenous knowledge in focus