Vishal Maini, a former Google DeepMind spokesperson, claims that external communication about the possibility of human extinction was not permitted, by anyone, at any level of the organisation. He adds that internally, the team knew AI alignment was not solved. This suggests a distinction between internal awareness of technical challenges and the public-facing narrative.

The ban reportedly applied to all levels of the organisation, indicating a top-down policy rather than individual hesitation. This approach contrasts with the current trend of some AI companies and researchers openly discussing existential risks. The policy aimed to control the external narrative, even as the internal team grappled with the technical reality.