Hut 8 Co-Founder Warns AI Is Moving Beyond Human Control

Marc van der Chijs, an entrepreneur and co-founder of bitcoin miner-turned-AI infrastructure company Hut 8 (HUT), is raising concerns about the rapid development of artificial intelligence despite remaining bullish on its long-term economic potential.

Van der Chijs said he has become increasingly pessimistic about humanity’s ability to control advanced AI. He compared AI’s current opportunity with bitcoin when he entered the cryptocurrency market in 2013, but warned that technological progress may now be moving faster than governments and companies can safely manage.

“We have lost control, actually,” Van der Chijs said, arguing that development should slow until stronger safeguards are established.

His concerns echo warnings from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei about the risks surrounding frontier AI. Van der Chijs believes intense competition between technology companies and governments makes voluntary restraint difficult, potentially allowing AI capabilities to advance before effective international rules are introduced.

He warned that AI could uncover vulnerabilities in financial systems and critical infrastructure. Legacy banking software could be particularly exposed, while within cryptocurrency markets, Van der Chijs views bitcoin exchanges and related businesses as more vulnerable than the Bitcoin network itself.

Despite those risks, he expects AI and robotics to reshape the global economy dramatically. Van der Chijs estimates the technologies could eventually perform 90% to 95% of existing jobs while sharply reducing the cost of goods and services. Governments may consequently need alternative revenue sources, potentially including taxes tied to robots or AI usage.

His investments have already shifted toward the sector. “I sold a lot of my bitcoin. I went into AI,” he said. Van der Chijs believes capital moving into AI contributed to Bitcoin remaining below the $200,000 to $250,000 levels some investors previously anticipated. He is now moving part of his AI profits back into crypto through exchange-traded funds.

Van der Chijs also praised Hut 8’s expansion into AI data centers, calling the strategy “the best move ever” and saying he would prioritize AI infrastructure over bitcoin mining.

Still, Bitcoin remains his preferred long-term asset. If forced to hold only one investment for the rest of his life, Van der Chijs said he would choose bitcoin.