Google DeepMind researcher quits over AI safety concerns

robert o'callahan, a technical expert at google deepmind in new zealand, has quit his job due to concerns over the risks associated with superintelligent ai. he worked on chip design tools that helped make ai cheaper and faster, but now says he can no longer justify his contributions. o'callahan calls the risk from superintelligent ai 'real but uncertain' and says aiming for asi in the near future is 'inherently irresponsible'. he warns of various risks, including cognitive surrender, ai-induced psychosis and loneliness, concentrated power, economic disruption, cybersecurity risks, and lack of accountability. many deepmind colleagues share his concerns but rarely speak publicly.