Investor Michael Burry criticizes AI leaders' calls for development slowdown
Michael Burry accused OpenAI, Anthropic and other AI firms of using calls for a slower pace of development as a self-serving tactic tied to upcoming IPOs, joining other tech figures in questioning the motives behind recent AI safety appeals.
Investor Michael Burry, known for his short-selling success during the 2008 mortgage crisis, posted on X that the recent appeals by OpenAI, Anthropic and other large AI companies to slow development are "self-serving". He argued that the slowdown request serves as a cover for declining growth and could benefit forthcoming IPOs, noting that "IPOs need hype & puffery; ‘we are so awesome it could become dangerous’ is hype & puffery."
Burry added that large language models are not artificial general intelligence and therefore "there is nothing AI to slow down," suggesting that the regulatory push is a marketing strategy rather than an altruistic safety measure. He previously warned that the current surge of AI investment resembles the dot-com bubble.
The statements follow recent essays and social-media posts by AI executives, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis and Elon Musk, who have advocated for greater government oversight and a more deliberate pace of AI development. Altman said a public listing would be "ill-advised" amid current concerns.
Other technology figures have echoed Burry's skepticism. David Sacks, a tech adviser to President Trump, said the motivation to slow down is not purely altruistic. Venture capitalist Bill Gurley warned that any regulation should not be crafted by the companies themselves. Vice President JD Vance expressed unease about AI firms seeking government regulation, describing it as a potential "trojan horse."
The debate occurs as the U.S. government finalizes a voluntary framework for evaluating new AI models, while major AI firms continue to file for IPOs and raise capital.