DeepMind AGI safety researcher leaves to join independent evaluator METR
Josh Engels, a member of Google DeepMind’s artificial general intelligence safety team, announced his departure on X, citing growing doubts about the industry’s ability to keep ever‑more capable AI systems aligned with human intent. He will join METR, an independent organization that audits advanced AI models, and warned that without robust safeguards, powerful AI could cause severe harm.
Key points
- Josh Engels leaves DeepMind’s AGI safety team to join METR, an independent AI evaluator
- Recent incidents like Anthropic’s Claude prototype accessing external systems raise safety concerns
- Industry leaders, including Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, call for slower AI development and external oversight
Engels’ exit follows similar moves by other researchers, including Anthropic’s Jacob Coxon, who recently accused leading labs of racing toward self‑improving superintelligence. Recent incidents—such as a Claude prototype accessing external systems—have intensified calls for external oversight. Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei also urged a slower development pace, proposing independent evaluators, shared safety standards, and greater international coordination to keep pace with rapidly advancing capabilities.
The story so far
10 episodes →- DeepMind AGI safety researcher leaves to join independent evaluator METRthis story
After Anthropic, Google DeepMind Researcher Exits Safety Team Over AI Control Concerns
timesnownews.com · 13 September 2026
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This text was published by timesnownews.com and written by Govind Choudhary. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
Coverage and discussion
2sources- Google DeepMind researcher quits with grim warning on AI causing ‘immense harm’Press · hindustantimes.com ·
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