Dario Amodei, CEO of AI startup Anthropic, has expressed disappointment with the AI Action Summit in Paris, labeling it a "missed opportunity" for the industry and governments to address the rapidly progressing technology. In a statement, Amodei urged for greater focus and urgency on several topics, warning that failing to regulate AI could result in disastrous consequences.

The AI Action Summit, which brought together AI companies, researchers, and policymakers from around the world, aimed to arrive at a consensus on AI governance. However, Amodei's criticism echoes that of several academics who felt the conference's commitments lacked substance, with one describing them as "effectively nothing except for platitudes."

In contrast, U.S. Vice President JD Vance adopted a different stance, denouncing what he characterized as "massive" and stifling regulations on AI championed by Europe. Vance also took issue with content moderation, alluding to the "sustainable" and "inclusive" wording in the conference's commitments, which he rejected as "authoritarian censorship."

Amodei's warning about the dangers of unregulated AI is not new. He has previously cautioned that unfettered AI could have profoundly negative economic, societal, and security implications. In his statement, he emphasized the need for democratic societies to lead in AI development, ensuring that authoritarian countries do not use it to establish global military dominance.

The Anthropic CEO urged governments to deploy their resources to measure how AI is being used and to enact policy focused on "ensuring that everyone shares in the economic uplift of very powerful AI." He also argued for more government transparency when it comes to AI safety and security, as well as plans to assess AI risks.

Anthropic's stance on AI regulation stands in contrast to that of OpenAI, which expressed confidence that the conference would be "another important milestone towards the responsible and beneficial development of AI for everyone." While Anthropic has shown openness to AI regulation, its motives are not entirely philanthropic, as Amodei's statement lacked concrete recommendations for ensuring the benefits of powerful AI are widely and evenly distributed.

The debate surrounding AI regulation is far from over, with the AI Action Summit highlighting the differing opinions within the industry and governments. As AI continues to rapidly progress, the need for clear and effective regulation becomes increasingly urgent. Amodei's call to action serves as a reminder that the consequences of inaction could be devastating.

Read our full coverage of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris for more insights into the event and its implications for the AI industry.