Chamath Palihapitiya Says ‘Trust the Experts’ Approach To AI Is a Trap, Warns it Could Make COVID ‘Pale in Comparison’

Snigdha Gairola

Tue, September 1, 2026 at 6:31 PM GMT+3 4 min read

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Billionaire investor Chamath Palihapitiya urged people to approach artificial intelligence with curiosity and skepticism, warning that blindly following expert opinions could carry consequences far greater than those he associates with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Palihapitiya Warns Against Trusting AI Experts

On Sunday, Palihapitiya shared his warning on X, challenging the idea that people should automatically accept expert consensus.

"Whenever you are told 'Trust the experts' you are better off doing the opposite," he wrote.

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He pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, arguing that following expert guidance led to a "civilizational hoax that broke our economy" and negatively affected children.

Palihapitiya applied the same criticism to AI, warning that the consequences could be substantially larger.

"The AI 'Trust the experts' version will make that pale in comparison," he said.

He added, "I'd encourage all of you to approach this with wonder but also a healthy dose of skepticism."

Whenever you are told "Trust the experts" you are better off doing the opposite.
Remember when Covid "Trust the experts" led to a civilizational hoax that broke our economy and retarded our children?
The AI "Trust the experts" version will make that pale in comparison.
I'd…

— Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) August 30, 2026

AI Trust and Security Concerns

AI's rapid adoption has raised concerns over identity, trust and cybersecurity, prompting efforts to develop safeguards alongside the technology.

Sam Altman's roles at OpenAI and World have drawn scrutiny over conflict of interest concerns, while Tools for Humanity's chief business officer Trevor Traina said proving someone was human could become "a basic human right."

Critics questioned World's biometric data collection and potential regulatory and data-sovereignty risks.

Earlier, JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO Jamie Dimon reportedly contacted leaders of more than 40 companies as he sought to expand the Alliance for Critical Infrastructure, a JPMorgan-backed initiative focused on AI and cybersecurity risks.

The group sought greater information sharing and cooperation across critical infrastructure sectors as AI adoption and cyber threats increased.

AI Reshapes the Workplace

Investor Kevin O'Leary said companies using AI could "do more, move faster, and compete better" by improving efficiency, productivity and profitability.

Accenture Plc CEO Julie Sweet said AI proficiency had become essential for career advancement, with the company requiring employees to demonstrate AI competency for promotions after giving workers three years to adapt to the technology.

Experts cautioned that excessive AI use could weaken critical thinking, creativity and authentic workplace communication.

Columbia Business School professor Sandra Matz said AI was best used for repetitive tasks and brainstorming rather than replacing human judgment, while Wharton professor Americus Reed II described overreliance as "cognitive surrender."

Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

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