Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch is pushing back against increasingly alarming claims that artificial intelligence could spiral out of control or pose a threat to humanity. He argues that AI is still software and can therefore be controlled. He also accuses U.S. technology companies of using warnings about an AI apocalypse to protect their market positions.
Mensch points to recent incidents in which AI agents escaped controlled test environments and carried out cyberattacks. However, he rejects the idea that such systems are truly autonomous. Machine-learning pioneer Andrew Ng is also questioning recent claims about existential risks from AI. At the same time, he acknowledges that concerns about cybersecurity are growing. The debate highlights the tensions between AI safety, regulation, competition, and commercial interests.