David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models • Hacker News Board

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#21

Post by mrweasel » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 5:52 PM UTC

socalgal2 wrote: post #4

Admits China won’t stop but says USA’s top should. Reminds me of City in the Edge of Forever

Unsure about your reference, but is your argument: Someone else is doing it, so I should be allowed to as well.

That's basically the western companies complaining that they can't compete with China because Chinese companies are allowed to polute more, so they would be allowed to polute as well. I don't buy that. Once you realise that you're doing something wrong or dangerous, you stop, regardless of what everyone else is doing and what rules they have to follow.

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#22

Post by daveguy » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 5:53 PM UTC

But.... Money. (as if no one understands this is regulatory capture and/or failure to improve... aka Money)

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#23

Post by SpicyLemonZest » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 5:54 PM UTC

nba456_ wrote: post #10

He's right that if all the frontier labs are in agreement that they should slow down, they don't need the government to do that.

No, that’s not accurate. An agreement among competitors to not engage in research that would let them outcompete each other is clearly an antitrust issue requiring a government waiver.

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#24

Post by toss1 » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 5:54 PM UTC

vatsachak wrote: post #17

The first time I have agreed with David Sacks

Yup. Sacks has been so consistently catastrophically wrong about everything else (especially geopolitics), this prompts me to reconsider my opinion on this.

[edit: +consistently]

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#25

Post by johnnienaked » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 5:56 PM UTC

kypro wrote: post #8

Insanity wrote: post #3

They’ll slow down not because they “are worried” but because their improvements are stagnating as they hit financial and technical challenges.

> because their improvements are stagnating as they hit financial and technical challenges. I don't mean to be rude, but how is it even possible for someone to hold this opinion in mid-2026? Can you explain why you believe this?

How can you not believe it? Neither of them are even close to making a profit and the market is saturated with cheaper alternatives.

This is a ploy for regulatory capture.

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#26

Post by layer8 » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 5:59 PM UTC

esafak wrote: post #16

nba456_ wrote: post #10

He's right that if all the frontier labs are in agreement that they should slow down, they don't need the government to do that.

And kids don't need parents to eat their vegetables and do their homework.

…if all kids are in agreement that they should do just that.

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#27

Post by agd » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 6:02 PM UTC

Huge amount of skepticism on HN right now, but the models are increasingly capable, and there are real, significant risks.

The approach proposed by Amodei looks sensible - voluntary checks at frontier labs, and appropriate regulation to follow. Yes, the devil's in the details, but it feels like the right approach overall.

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#28

Post by jubilanti » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 6:03 PM UTC

SpicyLemonZest wrote: post #23

nba456_ wrote: post #10

He's right that if all the frontier labs are in agreement that they should slow down, they don't need the government to do that.

No, that’s not accurate. An agreement among competitors to not engage in research that would let them outcompete each other is clearly an antitrust issue requiring a government waiver.

No, absolutely not "clearly". That word has no business being in any sentence about federal antitrust law in 2026. There is nothing clear or consistent about how is being applied and interpreted right now. If you're applying a coder's mindset to 'settled' law, you're in for a bad time.

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#29

Post by simianwords » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 6:04 PM UTC

kypro wrote: post #8

Insanity wrote: post #3

They’ll slow down not because they “are worried” but because their improvements are stagnating as they hit financial and technical challenges.

> because their improvements are stagnating as they hit financial and technical challenges. I don't mean to be rude, but how is it even possible for someone to hold this opinion in mid-2026? Can you explain why you believe this?

[flagged]

Re: David Sacks: OpenAI and Anthropic Don't Need Regulations to Pace Frontier Models

#30

Post by darth_avocado » Sun, Sep 13, 2026, 6:05 PM UTC

asdfman123 wrote: post #15

Insanity wrote: post #3

They’ll slow down not because they “are worried” but because their improvements are stagnating as they hit financial and technical challenges.

Actually, one of the major challenges they'll face is getting enough electricity. That could stop AI growth in its tracks.

I think it’s more than money and slowing progress. Public perception on AI is in the gutter. That is a much bigger threat to these companies. They’re trying to turn it around.