OpenAI CEO Sam Altman outlined two scenarios that he sees could derail progress in developing artificial intelligence (AI) and must be avoided.

Altman wrote in a Sunday night post on X that the two areas of concern involve the loss of control over AI’s alignment, or the concentration of too much power by a country or AI lab.

“First we could lose control of the future to AI. This is unacceptable; we are unapologetically on Team Humanity, and AI must always serve people. To ensure that, we need ways to ensure that alignment and safety techniques stay ahead of progress in model capabilities,” Altman wrote.

“Second, we could end up in a world with too much concentration of power. If an extraordinarily powerful AI is used by one person or company to impress their worldview onto everyone else, the results could be extremely dystopian,” he added.

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said that AI could overtake human control of the future if not properly managed. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

“Avoiding these two threats requires walking a narrow middle path; for example, one country could gain too much power. Another example is one lab ending up with too much power,” Altman wrote.

The OpenAI CEO’s post served as a follow-up to an earlier post that said U.S. companies developing AI need to adhere to safety standards, adding that he and the company would “welcome a federal framework that sets consistent safety requirements for frontier AI.”

Altman said that while companies have previously created responsible scaling policies and preparedness frameworks, the current state of the AI field requires a new approach.

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned that AI could lead to the concentration of power with one country or one AI lab. (Jason Redmond/Getty Images)

He said that, for example, OpenAI now goes through a process to “formulate explicit safety cases in advance of frontier reinforcement learning runs we expect to significantly increase capability, in addition to the safety work we have long done in advance of model releases.”

Altman’s comments come as he and other AI leaders at U.S. companies discuss ways to ensure the alignment and safety of AI models as they become more sophisticated, with researchers warning there is a chance an AI superintelligence could wipe out humanity within a decade.

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Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei called for AI companies to pace the development of frontier models. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei wrote an essay calling for AI labs to “pace the frontier” of model development, including through the use of third-party evaluators who have employee-level access to company systems and can verify adherence to safety measures, report on incidents and assess models’ alignment during training.

Altman said in a post on X that he agrees with that approach, adding that “Committing to having independent evaluators with employee-like access is a great idea, and we will do the same. We’ll have more to share soon.”

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As artificial intelligence converges with life sciences at an accelerating pace, the founder of NJF Holdings argues that the most consequential discoveries of the 21st century are more likely to emerge from within the human body than from beyond it — from the study of cells, genes and neural networks rather than from planetary missions or deep-space observation.

The claim is less contrarian than it might appear. For centuries, the dominant image of scientific ambition pointed outward: new continents, new atmospheres, new galaxies. The instruments of exploration were ships, then rockets, then satellites. What has changed is not the scale of the ambition but its direction. The machine-learning models now being applied to biology can predict the onset of disease years before symptoms appear, design candidate molecules in seconds and identify patterns in brain activity with a precision that earlier generations of researchers could not have approached. The telescopes of this era, Junkermann has observed, are trained not on stars but on the biological systems that determine how long and how well people live.

How Nicole Junkermann frames the shift from treatment to anticipation

The practical implications for medicine are significant. Healthcare systems across the developed world were designed around a reactive logic: a patient presents with symptoms, a diagnosis is made, treatment follows. That architecture reflects the limits of what was technically possible for most of the history of modern medicine. Those limits are changing.

Federated learning — an approach that allows hospitals and research institutions to collaborate on large datasets without transferring sensitive patient records — is creating the conditions for a genuinely decentralised health infrastructure. AI systems are already being used to model protein structures, accelerate drug discovery pipelines and flag early biological signals that human clinicians might not detect for months or years. Owkin, a company in the NJF Capital portfolio, operates precisely at this intersection: using a federated architecture to enable biomedical research across institutions while preserving the data privacy standards that the NHS and its European equivalents require.

Nicole Junkermann has described this trajectory as a structural shift rather than a cyclical one. The opportunity in life sciences is not tied to a single breakthrough or a particular product cycle. Scientific platforms, longitudinal data ecosystems and research collaborations of the kind now becoming technically feasible can compound in value across decades. The frontier, in her analysis, is not a moment but an architecture.

The ethical questions Nicole Junkermann sees in the exploration of inner data

The same convergence of AI and biology that makes predictive medicine possible also creates a new category of risk. As thought patterns become decodable and emotional states increasingly quantifiable, the concept of privacy acquires a dimension it did not previously have. Brain-computer interfaces are already restoring movement to paralysed patients and enabling communication for those who have lost speech — applications whose therapeutic value is clear. But the underlying capability raises questions that go well beyond the clinical setting.

Nicole Junkermann has argued that the central governance question of the coming decades may be who controls biological and cognitive data, and under what conditions. If the 20th century was shaped by the extraction of physical resources, the 21st may be shaped by the extraction of human data — and the distribution of the benefits from that extraction will depend on the design principles built into the systems doing the extracting. Discovery, she has warned, must not become domination.

Capital plays a decisive role in determining which design principles prevail. Investment decisions shape which technologies scale, which governance models become standard and which institutions accumulate the trust necessary to operate at the frontier of biological data. The potential to back companies that extend healthy lifespan, strengthen public health infrastructure and reinforce individual data rights is, in Junkermann’s framing, both a strategic and an ethical choice — and the two are not in tension.

Nicole Junkermann on responsibility and progress in life sciences

Nicole Junkermann has pointed to a boundary that deepening biological knowledge does not appear to dissolve. Algorithms can model perception, map neural pathways and replicate aspects of reasoning with increasing fidelity. Consciousness — the quality of awareness that underlies curiosity, empathy and the capacity to find knowledge meaningful — remains outside what computation can reproduce. The more precisely machines can describe the human body, the more clearly that boundary comes into view.

The exploration of inner space, on this reading, is not only the most ambitious scientific undertaking of the century. It is also the one most likely to clarify what distinguishes human experience from the systems built to study it. True progress in life sciences will require pairing technical capability with restraint — ensuring that the governance frameworks applied to biological data are built to protect the autonomy of individuals, not merely to facilitate the ambitions of institutions. In Junkermann’s view, the most durable companies in this space will be those that treat that distinction as foundational rather than as a constraint imposed from outside.

Scientist Elena Chrysostomou also used a relocation support scheme to swap a big city for smalltown US. In 2024 she relocated from San Diego, California, to Jacksonville, a town of 17,700 people in rural Illinois.

The move was backed by the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC), which gave her $5,000 in cash, plus a “quality of life package” worth $4,000 that includes free gym memberships and golf passes.

The JREDC says that while the region is “already a great place to live”, the support scheme helps to “sweeten the deal”.

Elena was spending $3,000 renting a one-bedroom apartment in San Diego, but she now owns a three-bedroom home, with a mortgage of $1,868. At the same time, her salary has gone up 22% after she changed jobs, and her commute has gone down from a 15-minute drive to one of just one minute.

“I never thought that I’d be able to afford a house on my own, I always thought I’d need a partner, and even then, in San Diego, it would be so tough,” she says.

“It’s just more freeing. There’s more security and independence.”

While both she and Brianna have no regrets, they do admit to some drawbacks to their new lives. These include the narrower range of activities and restaurant choices, leaving behind friends and family, and for Brianna the difficulty of settling her children into new schools.

And while in Portland Brianna enjoyed walking to parks and shops, she now relies on her car to get anywhere.

But overall she says she is thrilled. “I have the biggest savings I’ve ever had in my life, and I’m a homeowner, and I can do things with my kids – we actually went on vacation for the first time in my youngest’s life.”

Thailand’s Board of Investment approved six major projects worth $29 billion, led by TikTok’s $25 billion data center expansion. Three data center projects totaling $27 billion underscore Thailand’s emergence as a regional digital hub. Additional approvals include renewable energy and resource-based industries. The government strengthened power infrastructure and clean energy access to support tech investment growth.

Key Points

• Major Investment Approvals: Thailand’s Board of Investment approved six projects worth 958 billion baht ($29 billion), led by TikTok’s 842 billion baht data infrastructure expansion across Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

• Data Center Focus: Three of six approved projects target data centers and hosting services valued at 913 billion baht, positioning Thailand as a regional hub for digital infrastructure, cloud services, and AI-driven technology.

• Strategic Support Measures: The BOI fast-tracked nine additional projects under Thailand FastPass mechanism (bringing total to 25 projects worth 223 billion baht) and coordinated with energy agencies to strengthen electricity readiness and expand clean energy access for attracting high-technology investment.

Thailand’s Investment Boom: Strategic Infrastructure and Digital Growth

Major Investment Approvals Drive Thailand’s Digital Infrastructure Expansion

Thailand’s Board of Investment has approved six landmark projects totaling 958 billion baht (approximately USD 29 billion), with TikTok System (Thailand) leading the initiative through a massive 842 billion baht data infrastructure expansion. This approval demonstrates Thailand’s emerging prominence as a regional hub for data centers, cloud services, and AI-driven digital infrastructure. The projects span multiple sectors, including three significant data center investments valued at 913 billion baht collectively. TikTok’s expansion will enhance server capacity and data storage across Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chachoengsao Province, while also committing to digital literacy and e-commerce curriculum development for Thai entrepreneurs. Additional approved projects include Skyline Data Center’s 46 billion baht investment and Bridge Data Centres’ 24.6 billion baht facility, both strategically positioned to support growing regional digital demands.

Accelerating Implementation Through FastPass and Energy Readiness Initiatives

To expedite project deployment, the BOI selected nine additional projects worth 52 billion baht for the Thailand FastPass mechanism, bringing the total FastPass portfolio to 25 projects valued at 223 billion baht. This streamlined approval system coordinates multiple government agencies to reduce bureaucratic delays and accelerate operations. Simultaneously, the Board addressed critical infrastructure requirements by implementing power readiness measures with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Regulatory Commission, particularly focusing on the Eastern region’s electricity supply for incoming investments. The initiatives include accelerating Thailand’s Power Development Plan issuance and establishing Direct Renewable Power Purchase Agreements to enable private companies direct renewable electricity transactions, reflecting recognition that sufficient power infrastructure is essential for attracting large-scale digital investment.

Complementary Investments in Sustainability and Strategic Industries

Beyond digital infrastructure, Thailand approved three strategic projects addressing sustainability and resource development. PureCycle (Thailand) invested 8.18 billion baht in recycled plastic pellet production, utilizing exclusively licensed P&G technology to serve Asian markets. Dan Khun Thot Wind One committed 4.7 billion baht toward an 89-megawatt wind power generation project, while ASEAN Potash Chaiyaphum invested 31.4 billion baht in potassium chloride production for fertilizer applications. These projects underscore Thailand’s commitment to clean energy access and circular economy principles. The BOI emphasized implementing clean energy mechanisms, including Utility Green Tariff 2, and regulatory improvements facilitating renewable energy investment. This comprehensive approach positions Thailand competitively for the next investment cycle by combining digital infrastructure, power readiness, clean energy options, and skilled workforce development.

The UK’s position as a leading maritime nation and a key player in achieving its Net Zero obligations will be apparent for the next decade.

Maritime UK and hence those whose shipping jobs depend on the industry will hope that the necessary investment will be distinct enough to keep Maritime UK’s members reassured within the industry.

The Green Recovery has been in the government’s minds recently. Progress has been achieved through the emergence of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC). This was announced as part of the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. Also established was UK-SHORE which has received backing from the Department of Transport’s Decarbonisation Plan.

Maritime UK are hoping to influence the debate, keeping the industry at the forefront of the government’s minds and receiving backing from Ministers in the upcoming Parliamentary Debate, the date of which is unconfirmed presently.

The ways and means of maintaining a presence in MPs minds, regarding the outcome of the CSR, can be achieved though knowing the address of your local MP and how to contact them, having a template email to speed up communication and a graphic to post on your social media.

All of this is geared up to focus attention on the sector. The debate is being heard in The Houses of Parliament and Council Offices up and down the country.

Issues that are affecting government investment in the shipping industry include climate change, with transport being a main contributor to Green House Gases. Funds are required to help with renewal of the fleet and development of new propulsion technologies.

The sector is feeling the strain compared to construction, mining and quarrying who have all received a dedicated diesel to hydrogen fund in H2 strategy.

For the first time the UK’s emissions are being measured up against the International Emissions targets thus making for a more challenging set of figures. The UK’s sixth Carbon Budget will assess the potential for the UK reaching net zero by 2050.

There are other costs that have materialised recently and one of them is taxes for ports, some £40 million extra fuel levy, where the shipping industry has not received any exemptions, unlike some other sectors.

£20 million was however earmarked for the CMDC in the Prime Minister’s ten-point plan. It will be a one-off addition to a sector facing transition and will allow for feasibility studies and technology trials within the industry.

The government understands the need for a sector which needs to be at the forefront of the design and development of the shipbuilding fleet all over the world.

UK-SHORE or the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions has been established to help with decarbonisation plans. It is hoped that bodies like this will pave the way for the UK being a continuing major player in the shipping sector.

It is hoped that coastal hot spots will see the emergence of an employment bubble where new technologies are giving the UK some great opportunities, driving growth in these sometimes neglected communities.

The analysis showed that out of 292 funds, 189 delivered positive returns, while 47 generated double-digit returns. Around 102 funds gave negative returns during the same period.

Among these seven funds, five were smallcap funds, while one each was a focused fund and a midcap fund. The top-performing fund delivered over 30% returns during the period.

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TRUSTMF Small Cap Fund, the best-performing fund on the list, delivered a return of 32.28% in the last one year. It was followed by Motilal Oswal Focused Fund with a 26.50% return in the same period.

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The next four funds on the list were smallcap funds. Bank of India Small Cap Fund and Motilal Oswal Small Cap Fund delivered returns of 25.88% and 23.76%, respectively, during the period.
Union Small Cap Fund and ITI Small Cap Fund offered returns of 23.18% and 21.60%, respectively. HSBC Midcap Fund delivered a return of 20.19% in the last one year.

How did other equity funds fare?

LIC MF Value Fund and Aditya Birla SL Small Cap Fund delivered returns of 19.59% and 19.24%, respectively, in the last one year. Bajaj Finserv Small Cap Fund offered a return of 17.08% during the period.

Two smallcap funds, Quant Small Cap Fund and Sundaram Small Cap Fund, delivered returns of 15.44% and 15.23%, respectively, during the period. Helios Mid Cap Fund posted a gain of 12.76%.

Two funds from Quant Mutual Fund, Quant ELSS Tax Saver Fund and Quant Flexi Cap Fund, posted returns of 12.55% and 12.44%, respectively, in the last one year.

Two funds from Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Small Cap Fund and Axis Multicap Fund, delivered returns of 10.27% and 10.22%, respectively. ITI Focused Fund was the last fund on the list to deliver a double-digit return, at 10.04%.

Nippon India Small Cap Fund, the largest smallcap fund based on assets managed, delivered a return of 9.25% during the period. Edelweiss Small Cap Fund posted a gain of 8.42%.

Nippon India Growth Mid Cap Fund, the fund with the highest NAV, posted a gain of 7.32% during the period. HDFC Mid Cap Fund, the largest midcap fund based on assets managed, offered a gain of 6.38%.

Unifi Flexi Cap Fund delivered a return of 5.52% in the last one year. Canara Rob ELSS-Tax Saver Fund was the last fund to deliver a positive return, at 0.04%.

Negative performers

Parag Parikh ELSS Tax Saver Fund lost the most, declining around 11.02% during the period. It was followed by Franklin India Focused Equity Fund, which lost 9.34%.

Two funds from Quantum Mutual Fund, Quantum Value Fund and Quantum Value Fund, lost 8.08% and 8%, respectively, in the last one year.

Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund, the largest active fund and flexicap fund based on assets managed, lost 4.64% in the past one year. SBI ELSS Tax Saver Fund, the oldest ELSS fund, lost 3.25% during the same period.

SBI Contra Fund, the oldest and largest contra fund, lost 2.70% in the past one year. PGIM India Flexi Cap Fund posted the lowest decline, at around 0.03%.

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We considered all equity funds, excluding sectoral and thematic funds. We considered regular and growth-oriented funds and calculated their performance over the last one year.

Note: The above exercise is not a recommendation. The exercise was done to find which equity funds delivered over 20% return in the last one year. One should not make investment or redemption decisions based on the above exercise. One should always consider their risk appetite, investment horizon and financial goals before making any investment decision.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)

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