# Cato’s Huddleston: We Can’t Just Focus on Fears of AI “Doom” 

A recent resurgence of artificial intelligence fears has resulted in a range of voices calling for a full pause in AI development.

September 14, 2026 • News Releases 

A recent resurgence of artificial intelligence fears has resulted in a range of voices calling for a full pause in AI development. [Jennifer Huddleston](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fjennifer-huddleston/1/010001a0a0a6fd1a-3f253d5e-e54b-44a1-a085-c46b1cd86fc4-000000/gjObWREJNd-ThUe-h-RMtN6CKNk=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjliNzRlYmMwNWI2Mjk1YTU0YTUxZWI0NzBhNWNlZWRiOjc6YmIzMDoxNWVmMDg0MWQ0M2JhNGM1NmE4ZDZkYTRjY2M1NmY4NDk2MzRiMzgyMWJmNGRlNTc4NjU3NmI1NzIzMzk0NjdhOmg6VDpO), a senior fellow in technology policy at the Cato Institute, released a new [blog](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fno-ai-not-about-end-world-0/1/010001a0a0a6fd1a-3f253d5e-e54b-44a1-a085-c46b1cd86fc4-000000/emcQhR-bCHX3Fpti8owVZ4piEfE=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjliNzRlYmMwNWI2Mjk1YTU0YTUxZWI0NzBhNWNlZWRiOjc6Y2E0Njo4ZDcxMDhjYmJlYWViNDhmYmQxMmI4MWE2NTI3Y2QxOGYxN2FhNDc5YThkNzhiMGM0YTJlYTJjNmNmZWRiYjFmOmg6VDpO) arguing for a more balanced approach, writing in part:

> *“The last week has focused a lot on the potential risks of AI, distracting from the ways this broad-purpose technology is already transforming our lives in ways we don’t think about or see. We no longer think of autocomplete or text-to-speech as AI, even though they are. We often don’t see the* [*remarkable medical research*](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.med.wisc.edu*2Fnews*2Fai-medical-research*2F/1/010001a0a0a6fd1a-3f253d5e-e54b-44a1-a085-c46b1cd86fc4-000000/w6QISJKAa50DRE8GuqWr34-ORXg=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjliNzRlYmMwNWI2Mjk1YTU0YTUxZWI0NzBhNWNlZWRiOjc6M2M4NzplYzRmN2EyZTk5ZTc4ZTg5Mjk4NDcyODNkOGI2MmRlMWRlMmJhNjVkNjU0NzljOTM0Y2EyMTBjNjYxMTZlNjQ1Omg6VDpO) *that is being powered by AI until it directly impacts us or a loved one. AI is opening* [*new doors for entrepreneurship*](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cnbc.com*2F2026*2F03*2F27*2Fhow-ai-is-changing-american-entrepreneurship-small-business.html/1/010001a0a0a6fd1a-3f253d5e-e54b-44a1-a085-c46b1cd86fc4-000000/oYLge6CTRid-r0LNxko_Ojq8CC0=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjliNzRlYmMwNWI2Mjk1YTU0YTUxZWI0NzBhNWNlZWRiOjc6YzA0NTozMzg3ZTk2ZTBkNTUwYWY4ZjM5MmFiYmU3ZGFhMjFkMTVkZTg3YmNiYjAyNWU5MGYwMzY0MDBjYTU5NzJiMWE2Omg6VDpO) *and creating fresh* [*opportunities in skilled trades*](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fbuiltin.com*2Fartificial-intelligence*2Fai-blue-collar-jobs/1/010001a0a0a6fd1a-3f253d5e-e54b-44a1-a085-c46b1cd86fc4-000000/3IFmJrdmwsF5nrOdJ45WhKy3sRU=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjliNzRlYmMwNWI2Mjk1YTU0YTUxZWI0NzBhNWNlZWRiOjc6OWE3NToxYTQxY2Y3NWQ4Y2QyZTc1ZGFmMzExZjExN2ZkOTkzOWNmNjEyODZkZjk4MGZmMDc3NjViYjI1YTg3NzY5ZjQ3Omg6VDpO)*. Any conversation about how to govern this technology should consider two truths: yes, the risks could be real and worth taking seriously, but so are the benefits already showing up in people’s lives and livelihoods.”*

To speak with Huddleston, contact [Christopher Tarvardian](mailto:ctarvardian@cato.org).

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