Former DeepMind Executive Warns US AI Nationalism Could Trigger 'Worst-Case Scenario'

Verity Harding, a former DeepMind executive, cautioned WIRED that the U.S. government's increasingly nationalist approach to artificial intelligence development mirrors conditions that could lead to catastrophic outcomes. Harding's concerns center on how competitive geopolitical pressures may incentivize unsafe AI development practices across nations.

Why it matters: As policymakers worldwide shape AI regulation and investment strategy, warnings from respected AI researchers about the dangers of nationalist competition directly inform decisions that could affect AI safety governance and international cooperation standards.