Several senior employees at AI startup Anthropic are reportedly making contingency plans in case artificial intelligence becomes uncontrollable. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, some early staff members have discussed purchasing land in remote areas of the United States to establish shelters for their families.
The concept of preparing for extreme AI scenarios is not new within the company. Former employees recall early company gatherings where staff discussed hypothetical situations, such as being recruited by the government to work in isolated, electromagnetic pulse-shielded military bases to continue AI development.
Internal discussions regarding potential doomsday scenarios are common among staff, who frequently exchange ideas on private Slack channels. Some employees have even adopted the motto 'It will never be quiet again' as a guiding principle for their work.
Anthropic currently employs over 3,500 people. A company spokesperson stated that the organization maintains a wide range of perspectives and viewpoints regarding the development and potential impact of its technology.
