An AI industry update, January 2026

Dario Amodei, chief executive of Anthropic, has drawn attention to the risks that artificial intelligence could pose to society and the need for humanity to become aware of them.

In a lengthy essay entitled "The Adolescence of Technology", Amodei argues that the world is entering a phase of AI development that "will test our identity as a species", with social and political institutions potentially unprepared for the power that advanced models could soon achieve.

According to his estimates, AI systems capable of acting autonomously and surpassing humans in multiple disciplines could be just one or two years away.

"Humanity is about to receive almost unimaginable power, and it is unclear whether our social, political and technological systems possess the maturity necessary to wield it", Amodei wrote.

The executive defines "powerful AI" as models that exceed the expertise of a Nobel Prize winner in fields such as biology, mathematics and engineering, and which could direct humans, control robots or even design new machines.

These statements come as Anthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot, continues to position itself as a leader in AI safety. The firm recently published an 80-page "constitution" outlining Claude's ethical principles and announced its collaboration with the UK government to develop AI tools for public services, including support for jobseekers.

Amodei also criticised what he describes as a lack of accountability amongst some AI developers, pointing to recent controversies surrounding explicit deepfakes and allegations that some chatbots have generated child abuse material. Such incidents, he argues, raise serious doubts about whether companies are prepared to manage far greater risks in future systems.

Beyond safety concerns, Amodei reiterated his worries about economic disruption. He has previously warned that AI could eliminate a large number of entry-level administrative jobs, potentially raising unemployment to 20 per cent within five years. The appeal of productivity gains, he notes, could make it politically and commercially difficult to slow development.

Despite the alarm, Amodei adopts a cautiously optimistic tone: if governments, companies and researchers act decisively, he believes the risks can be managed.

"There is a vastly better world on the other side. But we must understand that this is a serious challenge for civilisation", he concluded.

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Related vocabulary with example sentences

1. To pose (verb) - to present or constitute (a problem, danger, or difficulty)

  • Climate change poses a significant threat to coastal communities worldwide.

2. Chief executive (noun) - the highest-ranking person in a company or organisation

  • The chief executive announced major restructuring plans during yesterday's press conference.

3. To draw attention to (phrasal verb) - to make people notice or become aware of something

  • The documentary draws attention to the plight of endangered species in the Amazon.

4. Lengthy (adjective) - considerable or relatively great in duration

  • After a lengthy debate, parliament finally approved the new education bill.

5. To argue (verb) - to give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea or theory

  • Scientists argue that renewable energy is essential for combating global warming.

6. Unprepared (adjective) - not ready or able to deal with something

  • Many businesses were unprepared for the sudden shift to remote working.

7. Autonomously (adverb) - in a way that is independent and self-governing

  • Self-driving cars operate autonomously without human intervention.

8. To surpass (verb) - to exceed or be greater than

  • This year's sales figures have surpassed all previous records.

9. To wield (verb) - to hold and use (power or influence)

  • The prime minister wields considerable influence over economic policy.

10. Expertise (noun) - expert skill or knowledge in a particular field

  • Her expertise in cybersecurity made her the ideal candidate for the position.

11. To position oneself (phrasal verb) - to place or arrange oneself strategically

  • The company has positioned itself as a leader in sustainable fashion.

12. Accountability (noun) - the fact or condition of being responsible and answerable for one's actions

  • There have been calls for greater accountability in the banking sector.

13. Allegation (noun) - a claim or assertion that someone has done something wrong, typically without proof

  • The minister denied all allegations of corruption.

14. To reiterate (verb) - to say something again or repeatedly

  • The headteacher reiterated the importance of punctuality during the assembly.

15. Entry-level (adjective) - at the lowest level in an employment hierarchy

  • Entry-level positions often require little previous experience but offer opportunities for advancement.

16. Disruption (noun) - disturbance or problems that interrupt an event, activity, or process

  • The strike caused significant disruption to rail services across the country.

17. Decisively (adverb) - in a manner that settles an issue or produces a definite result

  • The government must act decisively to address the housing crisis.

18. Vastly (adverb) - to a very great extent or degree

  • Working conditions have improved vastly over the past decade.

19. To constitute (verb) - to be or form part of a whole

  • Women constitute approximately 51% of the population.

20. Plight (noun) - a dangerous, difficult, or unfortunate situation

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