Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says public resistance to AI is less about gloomy messaging from AI leaders and more about a broader lack of trust in technology companies, governments, and institutions.
His comments responded to investor Gavin Baker, who argued that Amodei’s warnings about AI risk have helped fuel backlash against the industry, including opposition to data centers. Amodei disputed that framing, saying his public writing has balanced risks and benefits and that the industry still needs to describe a credible positive future.
The more important criticism, Amodei said, is that AI companies have not yet delivered on their largest promises to benefit the world. He also rejected a simple choice between rapid deployment with no regulation and regulatory capture by large companies.
The exchange captures a central tension in AI policy. Labs want permission to build powerful systems, but many people see concentrated corporate control, infrastructure costs, and safety risks before they see everyday benefits. Amodei’s answer puts the burden back on AI companies to prove usefulness, not simply improve messaging.