TLDR
- Michael Burry called the AI slowdown push “self-serving” and “hype and puffery” from OpenAI and Anthropic executives
- Burry argues large language models are not true AI and will never reach artificial general intelligence
- Sam Altman ruled out an OpenAI listing in 2026, citing safety reasons, two days after Anthropic’s CEO urged the industry to slow down
- Anthropic has been steering toward its own listing this autumn and does not expect to break even before 2028
- Crypto analyst Ben Cowen warned a large Anthropic IPO could pull attention away from Bitcoin
Michael Burry, the investor made famous by “The Big Short,” has called the AI industry’s push for slower development a calculated move driven by money, not safety.
Burry posted his criticism on X early Monday, two days after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published an essay urging AI labs to hold back on capability gains and allow independent evaluators inside their operations.
Let's all take a moment to understand how self-serving it is for OpenAI, Anthropic and other execs of big hyperscalers to talk of slowing things down.
1. LLMs are not AI and won't be AGI. There is nothing AI to slow down.
2. Competition is coming up fast, slowing benefits…— Cassandra Unchained (@michaeljburry) September 14, 2026
Sam Altman of OpenAI and Elon Musk backed Amodei’s position within hours of the essay going live.
Burry was not convinced. He laid out four arguments against the slowdown narrative.
His first point was that large language models are not real artificial intelligence and will never reach artificial general intelligence. On that basis, he sees nothing genuinely dangerous to slow down.
Second, he argued that a pause benefits whoever is currently ahead, protecting their lead from rivals closing in fast.
Third, he read the safety warnings as promotional material. A company that calls itself dangerously powerful is also calling itself valuable. Burry called that hype and puffery.
IPO Timing Behind the Safety Push
His fourth point was the most direct. Burry suggested the slowdown talk is covering for growth that is already fading, and that the timing lines up with delayed stock listings.
Altman ruled out a 2026 OpenAI listing on Saturday, the same day Amodei’s essay appeared, and gave safety as the reason. He gave no new target date.
Anthropic has been moving toward its own public listing this autumn. Neither company is profitable. Anthropic does not expect to break even before 2028. OpenAI has guided investors toward 2030.
A public listing would require audited financials, putting those numbers in front of every investor.
The safety messaging also pulled stock futures lower ahead of Monday’s open.
What This Means for Crypto
Crypto markets are watching closely. Analyst Ben Cowen warned that a large Anthropic float could drain attention and capital away from Bitcoin.
Burry is not a neutral voice here either. He expanded his Nvidia short in August, then bought December calls as a hedge, meaning he has a financial stake in how this plays out.
Amodei’s essay asked for evaluators inside AI labs. Burry says the real answers will come from the S-1 filings, not the essays.
Whichever version holds, the IPO paperwork will be more revealing than any public letter.
The AI slowdown debate is now tangled up with stock market timing, crypto market attention, and the financial futures of two of the biggest names in tech.
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