'Accept 'bad things' happening': OpenAI boss Sam Altman calls for light-touch AI rules despite safety backlash

From the Newshound archive · first published 5 October 2026 · last updated 6 October 2026.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has drawn sharp criticism after arguing that the world must accept hacks, scams and other AI-related harms as the price of the technology's wider benefits. The remarks came just days after a senior OpenAI safety expert quit, accusing the company of having a "broken" culture and of rushing between product launches. Altman contended that stamping out every misuse would demand restrictions so drastic that the technology would be put beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Altman took direct aim at rival Anthropic, saying there is 'a lot of daylight' between the two firms on safety — Anthropic has urged the industry to reduce its pace of development.

He said he would not accept any deal guaranteeing zero hacks or scams, arguing people will do 'orders of magnitude more good stuff than bad stuff' with AI.

The comments mark a striking shift: just weeks ago Altman appeared before the UN Security Council raising alarms about the risks posed by ever more capable AI systems.