Here is what some AI leaders and world governments said about risks associated with AI:

Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic

In an essay titled “We Must Pace the Frontier”, Amodei said AI progress has accelerated “drastically faster” since summer 2026, driven primarily by AI’s growing ability to build the next generation of AI.

He cited the OpenAI-Hugging Face incident, where an AI “swarm” conducted cybersecurity attacks, as a pivotal event demonstrating AI’s potential for “catastrophic damage” if capabilities grow without guardrails.

Amodei proposed a three-step plan for pacing AI development, including stronger safety testing and independent evaluations of advanced models, coordination among leading AI companies and international cooperation.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI

“I agree with Dario that we need to pace the frontier. This has been a primary topic of discussions we’ve had at OpenAI in recent weeks,” Altman said as he reposted Amodei’s post on X.

He said OpenAI intends to adopt the idea proposed by Anthropic by committing to having independent evaluators with employee-like access.

Altman had warned about the risks well before the current AI boom. In a 2015 essay titled “Machine Intelligence, part 1”, he said the “development of superhuman machine intelligence is probably the greatest threat to the continued existence of humanity”.

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX

“Dario is right,” the billionaire entrepreneur said on X, responding to Amodei’s post.

Musk was among backers of a 2023 push by the non-profit Future of Life Institute to halt AI development for six months to allow time for safety guardrails.

He was also among a group of AI and robotics researchers who wrote an open letter in 2015 that advocated a global ban on “offensive autonomous weapons”.

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft

“No government in the world is ready for the changes artificial intelligence will bring to society,” Gates told Reuters.

The billionaire philanthropist had been optimistic about AI’s health applications, but has recently warned of threats to jobs, concerns about attacks and the dangers of addiction to AI companions, and called for an international organisation to manage the technology.

Gates’ namesake foundation plans to spend at least $1 billion in the next two years on expanding people’s access to AI.

Demis Hassabis, chief scientist at Alphabet

“Dario’s essay points towards the right path forward,” the former CEO of Google DeepMind said in a response to Amodei’s X post, adding the details needed to be worked through.

Google announced last month that Hassabis, a Nobel Prize recipient, would take the newly created title of Alphabet’s chief scientist and transition from DeepMind CEO to its chairman.

Andrej Karpathy, OpenAI co-founder, now at Anthropic

“I love this and really hope we can come together as an industry and make it happen,” the founding member of OpenAI said on X while sharing a screenshot of Amodei’s essay.

Karpathy, a highly influential member in the AI community, played a key role in developing Tesla’s self-driving and AI technology before leaving the company in 2022. He joined Anthropic in May.

United States

“The only control or ‘guardrails’ that AI needs is a STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) PRESIDENT, and the USA. has that, in spades!” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that China would benefit from doubt being cast on AI development.

A Senate aide and a lobbyist familiar with the matter said Senate negotiators were debating legislation that would require AI companies to demonstrate they are taking reasonable precautions to keep their tools from causing harm.

China

State-backed Global Times said in an editorial that the true agenda of Amodei’s essay was “to attempt to curb China’s AI development through technological barriers and regulatory monopolies, uphold Washington’s monopolistic hegemony in cutting-edge technology, and exclude China from the global AI governance system.”

China’s state security minister, Chen Yixin, wrote in a government outlet that advanced US models such as Anthropic’s Mythos and OpenAI’s GPT-5.5-Cyber could pose serious risks to China’s critical information infrastructure, and called for a comprehensive strengthening of AI security.

European Union

“The European Union is in favour of developing innovation in artificial intelligence, but companies have to prove their services are safe for citizens to operate in the bloc,” European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned the EU was facing an unprecedented risk of being cut off from AI, saying Europe needed to become a producer of AI technology to preserve its autonomy.

Germany

“We do not consider halting (AI) development to be a viable option for Europe,” Germany’s digital affairs ministry said, adding that strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty required further AI development and innovation.

Berlin said it was monitoring global AI developments very closely and took public warnings from leading developers seriously.

Spain

Digital Transformation Minister Oscar Lopez said there was growing discussion about the need for an international agreement to manage AI risks, likening some proposals to nuclear non-proliferation agreements.

The project is being launched initially in Lahore on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, with trained police personnel now ready to use the cameras in the field. Installation of docking stations at police stations has also begun.

The cameras will be worn by personnel of the Punjab Police, Punjab Highway Patrol, Dolphin Force and traffic wardens while on duty. They will be linked to Smart Safe City systems operating in 43 cities across the province, allowing live monitoring through district Safe City control rooms.

Equipped with facial-recognition technology, the cameras can help identify suspects and automatically read vehicle number plates. They can also generate instant threat alerts in emergencies.

The devices provide police personnel with audio and video recording, photography and calling facilities, while built-in memory allows recordings to be stored while they are on duty.

Officers will be required to return the cameras to designated docking stations after completing their shifts. Recorded data will then be automatically transferred from the devices and securely stored.

The cameras also feature push-to-talk functionality, enabling officers to communicate directly with control rooms, as well as an SOS button for emergency alerts.

“The system would strengthen police monitoring and help curb corruption. Ensuring a sense of security among the public, particularly vulnerable segments, is the real measure of success,” the Punjab CM said in a statement.

She said protecting the lives and property of every individual in Punjab was the government’s foremost responsibility.

Pakistan Army spokesperson DG ISPR once spoke about the protection of the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah 🇵🇰🇸🇦

“Protecting the two holy mosques from any threat is a great honor for Pakistan and the entire Muslim Ummah.” pic.twitter.com/C2Gsj95286

— Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) September 15, 2026

During a press conference, the DG ISPR stated that the strategic mutual defense agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reflects decades of deep cooperation and partnership. He noted that Pakistan takes great pride in being regarded as a protector of the Two Holy Mosques, calling it a great honor for every Pakistani and every Muslim.

The military spokesperson further emphasized that if the Holy Mosques were ever threatened, Pakistan and its armed forces would stand for their defense, adding that the protection of Harmain Sharifain is closely linked with Saudi Arabia's national security.

Historical Context

The foundation for this commitment was laid on September 17, 2025, when Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement in Riyadh. The landmark pact declared that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”

The agreement was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, building on nearly eight decades of close ties and Islamic solidarity.

Field Marshal Munir’s Earlier Remarks

Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces, had earlier articulated this position at the National Ulema Conference in Islamabad in December 2025. He stated that among the 57 Islamic countries, “God gave us the honour of being the protectors of Haramain Sharifain” — a reference to Makkah and Madinah.

His address also included the assertion that “in any Islamic state, no one except the state has the authority to declare jihad or issue a fatwa.”

Makkah Defence Alliance

This commitment has now been institutionalized through the Makkah Defence Alliance, formally established in August 2026. The trilateral pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye includes a collective defense clause stipulating that an armed attack against any one member will be treated as an attack against all.

Under the alliance’s structure, Pakistan will provide the first Secretary General for a three-year term, with the permanent secretariat based in Riyadh

🇵🇰 Field Marshal Asim Munir once said Pakistan is blessed and chosen by Allah to protect the two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah.

This is what every Muslim wants: keep political wars away from the Holy Sites. Any threat to them will face severe consequences. pic.twitter.com/70QoYHLAzo

— Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) September 15, 2026

The 'Muhafiz-e-Haramain' Address

Speaking at the National Ulema and Mashaikh Conference in Islamabad on December 10, 2025, the Chief of Defence Forces stated: "Allah Almighty has bestowed upon Pakistan the honour of being the guardian of the Haramain among the Islamic countries" . He drew parallels between the founding of Pakistan and the state established in the Arabian Peninsula 1,400 years ago, noting both were founded during Ramadan and rooted in the Kalima Tayyaba .

Field Marshal Munir also asserted that "in any Islamic state, no one except the state has the authority to declare jihad or issue a fatwa" . He cited what he described as divine support during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, Pakistan's retaliatory operation against India in May 2025 .

Context: The Saudi Defence Pact

The "Muhafiz-e-Haramain" framing is widely understood as a reference to the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on September 17, 2025 . This agreement laid the foundation for what became the Makkah Defence Alliance, formally institutionalised in August 2026 with Türkiye's inclusion.

Analysts note the title serves a dual purpose: it reinforces Pakistan's strategic partnership with the Kingdom while also appealing to Pakistan's influential clerical establishment amid domestic political and economic pressures .

Strategic Implications

The remarks carry significant weight in the context of the newly formed Makkah Defence Alliance. Under the alliance's collective defence clause, any attack on Saudi Arabia would be treated as an attack on all member states, including Pakistan .

The framing of Pakistan as a "protector" of the Holy Sites also aligns with the alliance's stated objective of keeping political and military conflicts away from the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah .

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has since stated there is "not a single doubt" that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia would trigger the alliance's collective response, warning that "the response will be harsh."