Altimeter’s Gerstner rejects AI extinction warnings amid growing backlash

Altimeter Capital CEO Brad Gerstner pushed back on recent warnings from AI researchers who have raised concerns about the technology causing human extinction. Speaking on CNBC’s "Halftime Report" on Friday, he said the debate had become exaggerated and suggested some critics were advancing a political agenda. Gerstner said AI companies and investors have already put significant effort into safety measures, and argued that the industry is being portrayed as if it is ignoring risks. His firm has invested in Anthropic, OpenAI, Glean, and Databricks. The comments came after a former Anthropic researcher accused AI companies of taking dangerous risks in the race toward superintelligence. The debate has added to broader public backlash in the U.S. over AI development and the rapid expansion of data centers.