Meta's Dina Powell McCormick urges AI rivals to center humanity in collaborative approach

Exclusive: Meta's Dina Powell McCormick calls for AI rivals to center "humanity"

Why it matters: Powell McCormick used her debut at Axios House Davos to frame AI as a "transformation" for the human race -- and to urge the industry to align on "core values" that ensure the technology is as "safe" as it is "productive." Driving the news: Powell McCormick -- a former Goldman Sachs executive and top official in both the George W. Bush and Trump administrations -- is eight days into her new role. * Her background spans Silicon Valley, Wall Street and Washington -- an increasingly valuable mix as AI policy, energy and workforce demands converge. * She and her husband, Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), hosted a first-of-its-kind AI-energy summit in Pittsburgh last summer that convened tech CEOs, major investors, labor leaders and government officials to grapple with how to power and staff the next phase of AI growth. What they're saying: "What I mean by [group sport] is you can't accomplish it without the energy that's required, without all of the hyperscalers coming together, without governments," Powell McCormick told Axios' Mike Allen on Monday. * "At our summit, it was really wild to see [BlackRock CEO] Larry Fink and [others] ... come together and actually agree that this new phase of compute is going to require 500,000 electricians in the country," she said. * "Just think about these new jobs that are being created in cities, frankly, that have been losing jobs for so long." Between the lines: Powell McCormick said she decided to join Meta not only because of her admiration for CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the company's board, but because she believes a "transformation in humanity" is underway. * "Nothing can stop that now, with this technology, and to even be a tiny part of that with a company that I admire as much as Meta is just truly a huge honor," she added. * She added that AI's trajectory will ultimately depend on human judgment, arguing that people must be "careful" and "responsible" in guiding the technology so it leads to a more productive and peaceful future. The intrigue: Powell McCormick suggested AI's risks and rewards are now big enough to require coordination among competitors -- even as they continue to battle for market share.

Powell McCormick calls AI transformation a "group sport"

Dina Powell McCormick, Meta Platforms Inc.'s new president and vice chairman, stated that artificial intelligence demands cooperation among technology companies to prioritize "humanity" during her Axios interview since assuming the role. Powell McCormick, speaking at Axios House Davos, characterized AI as a "transformation" for the human race and advocated for industry alignment on "core values" to ensure the technology's safety and productivity. Powell McCormick, eight days into her new position, has a background spanning technology, finance, and government, having served as a Goldman Sachs executive and a senior official in both the George W. Bush and Trump administrations. She and her husband, Senator Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), co-hosted an AI-energy summit in Pittsburgh last summer. The event convened technology CEOs, investors, labor leaders, and government officials to address the energy and workforce demands of AI growth. Powell McCormick stated that AI development is a "group sport" requiring collaboration among "hyperscalers," energy providers, and governments. She noted that the Pittsburgh summit brought together executives, including BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who agreed that the next phase of computing would necessitate 500,000 electricians in the United States, creating new jobs in areas that have experienced job losses. She noted her decision to join Meta stemmed from her admiration for CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the company's board, believing a "transformation in humanity" is underway through AI technology. Powell McCormick emphasized that AI's trajectory depends on human judgment, urging careful and responsible guidance of the technology toward a productive and peaceful future. She posited that AI's risks and benefits necessitate coordination among competitors despite ongoing market share battles. She called for technology companies to collaborate on shared "core values," including safety standards, energy consumption, and regulatory approaches, aiming for a "prosperous" and "peaceful" future. She also said her contacts at other companies have shown eagerness to partner with Meta.