Liu Shengyu, a machine-learning systems engineer working on DeepSeek’s V4.1 model, made the comments in a Chinese-language blog post while arguing that cutting-edge AI should remain broadly accessible, Anadolu Agency reported.
“I believe cutting-edge intelligence should be made available to everyone in an open and affordable manner,” Liu wrote.
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However, he said he did not trust Anthropic or OpenAI to follow that approach, expressing particular concern over the possibility of Anthropic controlling the most advanced AI or artificial general intelligence (AGI).
“To put it dramatically, the consequences would be no less severe than Hitler acquiring atomic bomb technology before the Allies,” Liu said.
AGI generally refers to AI systems capable of matching or surpassing humans across a broad range of intellectual tasks.
Liu also argued that access to increasingly powerful AI could become crucial for social mobility as the technology develops. He said upward social mobility could become “increasingly difficult,” with people potentially needing access to the most capable AI systems to overcome economic and social barriers.
His comments come amid a broader debate in the AI industry over how quickly frontier AI systems should be developed and how their potential risks should be managed.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei recently called for a slower pace of AI development and stronger monitoring. He has also proposed placing independent third-party evaluators within leading AI companies, while arguing that efforts to improve AI safety should not come at the expense of commercial competitiveness.
The debate intensified after former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon resigned and criticized the behavior of major AI companies. Anthropic alignment-science lead Evan Hubinger later said he personally believed there was a greater than 10% chance of AI causing human extinction within the next decade.
China has also increasingly criticized what it describes as attempts to restrict access to advanced AI technology.
The Dongbuyaqiao Research Institute, an independent Chinese research platform, said Tuesday that Amodei’s proposals could represent an effort to gain greater influence over industry rules before global AI governance frameworks are fully established.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Monday that “fearmongering, confrontation and vicious competition” could undermine efforts to establish sound global AI governance.
Meanwhile, a commentary published by China’s state-run Global Times characterized Amodei’s proposals as a “silent AI Cold War,” arguing that they could help preserve the United States’ technological advantage while limiting China’s role in global AI governance.
US President Donald Trump has opposed calls to slow AI development, arguing that restrictions on American AI progress could allow China to gain a competitive advantage.
