Ex-Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon allegedly backed by doomer PR firm
On Sept 25, PirateWires published an investigation claiming that former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon had been working with PR firm DEY. (DEY. Ideas + Influence), which represents prominent AI doomers including Eliezer Yudkowsky, while publicly denying any third-party involvement. Citing two sources and an email, the report alleges Coxon lied on camera; the story spread via NY Post and ignited an online firestorm.
Confirmed
- PirateWires published the report; accounts including beffjezos, Kyrannio, soleio, Polymarket, AIFlowML and StewartalsopIII relayed the same sourcing, and petetrainor's NY Post repost confirmed the firm's full name as DEY. Ideas + Influence
- The report's key contrast is a Fox News interview: host Bret Baier asked whether Coxon's whistleblowing involved third parties; Coxon said it was entirely personal concern based on his own experiences, while the report claims DEY. was arranging his podcast appearances and allegedly booking interviews for MIRI founder Nate Soares
- OpenAI researcher Susan Zhang publicly quipped that for AI doomers a PR firm hardly counts as a "third party"
- e/acc figure beffjezos called it proof of a "regulatory psyop"; AIFlowML commented it was "standard SF practice"; brianchau57 suggested reading it alongside his older essay "The Worst Are Full Of Passionate Intensity"
Unconfirmed
- The specifics of the Coxon–DEY. relationship rest on unnamed sources cited by PirateWires, with no direct response from the parties or independent documents
Why it matters
- The leak lands amid the bitter e/acc vs. AI-safety divide; e/acc figures frame it as hard evidence of coordinated influence ops, likely escalating the feud
- If true, it undermines the independence narrative of public AI-safety figures; if false, it illustrates e/acc tactics of using media leaks to attack opponents
2026-09-25 ~ 2026-09-26 · 15 related posts
- Episode 1: Ex-Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon allegedly backed by doomer PR firm(2026-09-25, 15 posts)
- Episode 2: Debate erupts over whether a16z secretly funded whistleblower PR(2026-09-25, 3 posts)
- Episode 3: Model Republic's Tyler Johnston Investigates Who Funds the AI Safety Backlash(2026-09-26, 6 posts)
Primary sources
- PirateWires claims AI safety figure was propped up by a doomer PR firm — beffjezos · 2026-09-25
- Pirate Wires: ex-Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon's AI-doom media tour was PR-orchestrated — Kyrannio · 2026-09-25
- OpenAI researcher's snark: a PR firm isn't 'third-party' if humanity is the collective second-party — suchenzang · 2026-09-25
- [source] Report: AI doomers' PR firm DEY. coordinated Jacob's media debut, booked Nate Soares — soleio · 2026-09-25
- [source] Probe: ex-Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon worked with a 'doomer PR firm' — Polymarket · 2026-09-25
- Pirate Wires: AI doomer Jacob Coxon worked with a PR firm tied to Yudkowsky — AIFlow_ML · 2026-09-25
- Pirate Wires: AI doomer figures work with PR firm DEY., MIRI founder interviews pre-booked — AaronBergman18 · 2026-09-25
- Ex-Anthropic researcher's AI-doom interviews were booked by PR firm DEY., report claims — StewartalsopIII · 2026-09-25
- Scoop: Jacob Coxon reportedly lied on camera about his PR campaign, AI safety circles scrutinized — basedjensen · 2026-09-25
- OpenAI Whistleblower Claims Solo Safety Concerns, But Report Says Doom PR Firm Was Involved — basedjensen · 2026-09-25
- [source] Report: PR firm behind ex-Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon's AI doomer media blitz — petetrainor · 2026-09-26
4 near-duplicate retellings: beffjezos · AIFlow_ML · MickeySteamboat · HildeKuehne