A former Google DeepMind researcher has issued a stark warning that artificial intelligence could kill all humans, adding his voice to a growing group of scientists who claim time is running out to prevent a catastrophic outcome.
The departure marks the latest high-profile exit from a major tech firm, as public anxiety intensifies over the rapid pace of machine learning and the lack of systemic guardrails across the industry.
Ex-DeepMind Researcher: Unsettling Warnings Over AGI Safety and Alignment
The statement comes shortly after Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned from his position. Coxon revealed that prominent figures building advanced systems earnestly believe the technology could end humanity before the end of the decade. Anthropic scientist Evan Hubinger supported those concerns, estimating a greater than 10 per cent chance that artificial intelligence could cause human extinction within ten years.
Confirming his own exit on social media, former Google DeepMind researcher Bilal Chughtai detailed his previous focus on AGI safety and alignment before deciding to leave the company entirely.
“I recently resigned from Google DeepMind, where I worked on AGI safety and alignment research,” Bilal Chughtai wrote on X. “I earnestly believe that AI has the potential to kill us all, and that we might be running out of time to avoid this outcome.”
According to his LinkedIn profile, Chughtai co-authored several technical research papers during his time as an engineer at Google DeepMind before leaving in July 2026. Google did not respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours.
Leaders Call for an Urgent AI Development Slowdown
The mounting exits have pushed executives to confront the threat of uncontrolled progress. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called over the weekend for an AI development slowdown, receiving unexpected backing from SpaceXAI owner Elon Musk and OpenAI chief Sam Altman.
Despite his grim assessment, Chughtai believes humanity can still navigate the technology safely if companies abandon their reckless sprint for commercial market dominance.
“We need to pace AI development to a speed that society can handle, where emerging risks can be addressed before extreme harm is realised,” Chughtai added, warning that safety depends on international coordination “to avoid this manic race between AI companies.”
Political leaders remain divided on the issue. President Donald Trump rejected the warnings on social media, dismissing tech industry calls for regulatory oversight as a “hoax.”
