These are the sober and informed takes that we need more of.

> the claims from Coxon and his ilk are the most extraordinary a technologist can make, and we must demand evidence commensurate with the claims.

Yes, exactly. These claims do not have sufficient evidence.

> ...you had nothing to fear then — and (at least with respect to extinction risk!) you have nothing to fear now.

Wait, this is another extraordinary claim without evidence, right?

Unless you're going to dispute the power of AI you do have to acknowledge the danger of AI, and that does include the very real possibility (however small) of existential risk.