Anthropic Co-Founder Admits AI Is a "Mysterious Creature"

Jack Clark, co-founder of the high-flying AI startup Anthropic, told Fortune Tech’s Andrew Nusca, that “what we are dealing with is a real and mysterious creature, not a simple and predictable machine. And like all the best fairytales, the creature is of our own creation."

Humans also have work to do in ensuring the technology does not go out of control. (Photo: Anthropic) 

With AI showing ever more capability — and crucially, agency — Clark said he is both optimistic and “deeply afraid” of what that means for the future. But he added that humans have work to do as well.

“We need to spend a bit less time talking about the specifics of the technology and trying to convince people of our particular views of how it might go wrong … and more time listening to people and understanding their concerns,” he wrote, adding:

“The rest of the world, which will surely want — and deserves — a vote over this.”