Science & Tech · AI · 6 hrs ago
Former Google engineer says he is not saving for retirement over AI fears
Nate Soares, a former Google engineer, says AI could put humanity at risk within 10 years.
He said he sees a 50% chance that people will no longer exist by then, and is not adding to his retirement savings.
He still has savings from his time at Google, but said he has not added to them for about 10 years.
His comments come amid debate over whether AI development should slow down to make the technology safer.
Some technology executives and political figures warn that slowing development could create monopolies and give China an advantage.
The Trump administration favors encouraging innovation rather than introducing rules to slow AI development, and the debate over AI safety and its pace continues.
Former Google engineer Nate Soares says he is not adding to his retirement savings because he fears artificial intelligence could threaten humanity.
Soares, president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, said he believes there is a 50% chance people will not exist in 10 years.
He still has a US 401(k) account from his time at Google, but says he has not contributed to it for about 10 years.
His view is a personal risk assessment, not an established forecast, and he says he is working to prevent the outcome he fears.
The reports also describe disagreement over whether AI development should be slowed, with some warning against slowing it down.
- Who
- Nate Soares, a former Google engineer and president of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute.
- What
- He says he is not adding to his retirement savings because he fears AI could threaten humanity.
- When
- He discussed the issue in a podcast; reports were published on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- In a podcast hosted by The Atlantic’s chief executive, Nicholas Thompson. The location is not stated.
- Why
- He believes there is a 50% chance people will not exist in 10 years because of AI’s effects.
Those calling for controlled or slower AI development
Those warning against slowing AI development
Approach to development
Those calling for controlled or slower AI development
Dario Amodei said development should be balanced, controlled and collaborative to ensure AI advances safely.
Those warning against slowing AI development
Some technology executives and political figures say slowing development could lead to industry monopolies and give China an advantage.
US policy
Those calling for controlled or slower AI development
Amodei called for a controlled and collaborative process.
Those warning against slowing AI development
The Trump administration favors encouraging innovation over new rules that would slow AI development; Trump argued that slowing work could benefit China.
Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei published an article calling for balanced, controlled and collaborative AI development.
Soares stopped adding contributions to the retirement account he had from his time at Google.
The Atlantic reported that Soares was no longer putting money aside for retirement because he did not expect the world to still be there.
Mediaterranee.com, Bloomberg HT and Habertürk published reports about Soares’s comments.
- Name
- Nate Soares
- Role
- President of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute
- Former employer
- Retirement account
- US 401(k) from his time at Google
- Time without contributions
- About 10 years
- Personal risk estimate
- 50% chance people will not exist in 10 years
3 sources
What people are saying
I am not saving for retirement
the world will still be there