NJ Leaders Sound Alarm Over AI Powers That Could 'Kill Us All'

New Jersey government leaders and candidates are sounding the alarm and calling for stronger oversight for the artificial intelligence industry after a researcher said that the programs could "kill us all by the end of the decade."

"No other human activity poses this level of danger," said Jacob Coxon, a former researcher at industry leader Anthropic who said he resigned over the lack of safeguards, shared on social media.

In a thread posted to X, Coxon, who worked at OpenAI and Anthropic, outlined his reasons for quitting.

"They are racing straight to self-improving superintelligence and gambling with our lives," he wrote.

That statement sparked concerns over AI regulation, with Sen. Andy Kim calling for the Senate to pass bipartisan legislation to "reassert control over AI for the American people."

"The warnings we've gotten after multiple concerning AI incidents need to serve as a wake-up call to establish a comprehensive approach including government action to put guardrails on our own technology, and ensure that our competitors and adversaries aren't able to develop dangerous technologies," Kim said.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill unveiled a plan this past May to establish guardrails on data center development.

Part of this includes a bill signed in late August requiring greater transparency around data center energy and water use.

Rebecca Bennett, the Democratic candidate in NJ-07, said that "meaningful federal legislation" is needed for AI, according to New Jersey Globe.

On Monday, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-20) introduced legislation that would establish a six month moratorium on approvals, construction, expansion,
subsidies and tax incentives for certain artificial intelligence data centers. It also would create a Artificial Intelligence Data Center Impact Commission.

The "Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium and Impact Study Act" applies to AI data centers that have an electrical demand of more than 10 megawatts.

At least 109 New Jersey municipalities have passed legislation to either temporarily or permanently ban data center construction, according to the Pinelands Alliance.

"Municipal officials are concerned about impacts to drinking water, noise, and air pollution. New Jersey needs a three-year moratorium on data centers so that we can develop robust laws that protect the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the communities in which we live," said Jennifer Coffey, Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions’ Executive Director.