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AI pioneer says extinction fears are made-up safety talk

Google Mind co-founder Andrew Ng argues that big tech firms are leaning on doomsday scenarios to shut out rivals; the end of the world, apparently, has competition.

On air: Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger on BBN Tonight
Published 6:08 PM ET, Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Photo: TechCrunch · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Andrew Ng — Photo: TechCrunch · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by New York Post: “AI pioneer blasts extinction fears, accuses tech firms of using ‘made-up safety arguments’ to ‘stifle competition’”.
Covered on BBN on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 6:08 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Chip Darnell and Hank Ledger.
Topics: AI.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

New York PostAI pioneer blasts extinction fears, accuses tech firms of using ‘made-up safety arguments’ to ‘stifle competition’

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe fact is simple. Andrew Ng, the Google Mind co-founder, is dismissing fears that AI could wipe out humanity, according to the New York Post.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd he says tech firms are using made-up safety arguments to stifle competition, which is the kind of dramatic recap this desk lives for.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo the end of the world has an application process.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWith a waiting list, Hank, and I hear the parking is terrible, like every good strip mall.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorStill ahead, what does Taylor Swift's new footage show this time?
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorI've already filed my own extinction permit, and they lost it.