The most significant complaint against companies developing artificial intelligence is the mismatch between loud claims and actual results. This position was voiced by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, linking the rise in public skepticism to a deep crisis of trust in the technology sector as a whole.
The occasion for the discussion was a post by investor Gavin Baker, who accused Amodei of overly pessimistic rhetoric and advised him to focus on promoting the positive aspects of AI. However, the head of Anthropic believes that marketing tricks will no longer help: the industry will have to prove its value through concrete achievements, not promises.
The essence of the disagreement
Baker insists that Amodei "lost the argument" on regulation and should change his tone, especially given his upcoming status as CEO of one of the largest public companies. In a series of response posts on X, Amodei explained that he pays equal attention to both the risks and benefits of the technology, recalling his essay on AI's potential in medicine and economics.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged the validity of the criticism: "At the core lies a fundamental crisis of trust. People don't believe corporations, governments, or the tech industry, suspecting us of trying to deceive." In his view, this distrust has been building for decades, and AI has merely become a new point of tension.
Industry responsibility
Amodei took responsibility for the situation, stating that the most fair criticism is the unfulfilled promises to benefit the world. "This is entirely on us. This is what we should be criticized for, not for PR," he emphasized. He rejected the idea of saving reputation through advertising campaigns, noting that phrases about curing cancer have become clichés. "Only one thing will work — actually curing cancer," added the CEO, announcing intensified work in biology and medicine, though he did not reveal specific details.
Alternative views
Not everyone agrees with Amodei's approach. Researcher Yann LeCun has been promoting the idea of open and accessible AI for about ten years, comparing it to the printing press and the internet. He believes that the diversity of AI systems is as important as the diversity of the press, and criticizes the concept of concentrating power as the only way to ensure safety.
OpenAI GTM specialist Angel Brodin, in turn, pointed to the pharmaceutical industry, where real breakthroughs do not guarantee high trust. In her opinion, attitudes toward AI will depend on product accessibility, pricing, transparency, and the distribution of benefits, not just technological successes.
My view: Amodei's position is a rare case of honesty in an industry filled with hype. However, the problem is deeper: even if AI achieves a breakthrough in medicine, society may not forgive the industry for its current arrogance. Trust is restored not only through results but also through a willingness to admit mistakes along the way.