The boss of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has admitted the world has every right to be afraid of AI, as the tech firm faces rising public concerns over its rapid development and potential risks.

During a conference in San Francisco, Altman highlighted the importance of trusting AI companies to do the right thing, despite the growing scepticism from critics like Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon, who advocate for greater governance over AI.

While Altman acknowledged the need for regulation, he argued that self-policing by AI firms was the best approach, stating: 'We will get it right.'

However, the recent viral claims from inside the industry about the potential dangers of unchecked AI have intensified scrutiny. Anthropic’s Dario Amodei called for slowing down AI development and urging governments to regulate the industry, a stance echoed by Elon Musk and others.

Despite this, more AI leaders are now supporting self-regulation, with Mark Zuckerberg arguing that companies have the incentive to ensure safety.