September 15, 2026, (Inside AI) — SYDNEY — Cathie Wood, founder of Ark Investment Management, on Tuesday endorsed the recent pledge by global AI leaders to slow the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, calling it a positive step for the industry's secure development. The endorsement came during a press briefing in Sydney, where Wood addressed reporters amid a sharp selloff in AI-related stocks.
The pledge, initiated over the weekend by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, urged AI companies to decelerate the pace at which model capabilities are being advanced. It was quickly supported by Elon Musk, founder of xAI and Tesla, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The collective call for caution triggered a decline in global AI stocks on Monday, as investors weighed the implications for future growth. Asian markets continued to struggle on Tuesday, with chip and AI-related shares under pressure.
Wood, whose firm holds stakes in Tesla, SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic across its public and private funds, framed the increased scrutiny as beneficial. "Having been in the tech and telecom bubble, which ended in a bust, I'm happy that the leaders of the industry are advertising the risks associated with this new technology," she told reporters in Sydney. "Half of the solution is understanding the problem."
Her comments contrast with the immediate market reaction, which reflected fears that a slowdown could curb the sector's explosive growth. The AI industry has been a primary driver of record-high equity markets in recent months, and any hint of deceleration tends to spook investors. Yet Wood, a veteran investor known for her bullish bets on disruptive innovation, sees the pledge as a maturing moment for the field.
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The debate over AI safety intensified last week when two Anthropic researchers warned on social media that there is a rising risk AI could kill humans before the end of the decade. Altman subsequently stated that OpenAI would not go public in 2026, citing safety concerns. Wood dismissed the researchers' warning as "ridiculous," but added, "Yet, it gives us a great opportunity to focus the world on cybersecurity in this space."
Her remarks underscore a broader tension within the AI community: how to balance rapid innovation with responsible development. While some leaders advocate for slowing down, others worry that excessive caution could cede competitive advantage. The pledge itself lacks specific enforcement mechanisms, and it remains unclear how it will translate into practice. Nevertheless, the fact that figures like Amodei, Musk, and Altman are publicly aligning on the need for caution marks a shift from the previously unchallenged race for scale.
Regulatory pressure is also mounting. An increasing number of U.S. lawmakers are calling for new rules to govern AI systems. However, President Donald Trump said on Monday that the U.S. was already able to regulate and prosecute AI companies, suggesting that additional legislation may not be necessary. This stance could complicate efforts to establish a comprehensive federal framework, leaving a patchwork of state and international approaches.
Wood's support for the pledge may help reassure investors that safety measures do not necessarily hinder long-term returns. Ark's holdings in both OpenAI and Anthropic give her a unique vantage point on the competitive dynamics. She has consistently argued that innovation and regulation can coexist, provided the rules are clear and predictable. Her comments in Sydney echo that philosophy, emphasizing that understanding risks is the first step toward mitigating them.
The market's negative reaction on Monday and Tuesday highlights the sensitivity of AI valuations to any perceived threat to growth. Yet Wood's track record includes navigating the dot-com bust, where she learned that bubbles often form when risks are ignored. By applauding the leaders' pledge, she may be signaling that this time, the industry is addressing its vulnerabilities earlier.
As AI capabilities continue to advance, the conversation around safety and ethics will only grow louder. The coming months will test whether the pledge leads to tangible changes or remains a symbolic gesture. For now, Wood's endorsement adds a prominent voice to the call for a more measured approach, one that prioritizes cybersecurity and long-term sustainability over unchecked speed.
