Scott Bessent compares AI CEOs who warn of catastrophe to Hannibal Lecter: 'Stop me before I kill again'

Business Insider | 03-10-2026 11:14pm |

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent compared AI CEOs who warn of catastrophe to the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter, saying "Stop me before I kill again" during a Saturday appearance on "The Axios Show." Bessent criticized what he called "alarmism without solutions" by some in the AI community, arguing that it does not constitute leadership. He suggested that the industry can slow itself down without government intervention.

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