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Gates Warning about A.I.; Trump's Polls with Youth Voters; 2026 VMA's Performances and Tributes. Aired 9:30-10a ET

Aired September 28, 2026 - 09:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[09:33:13]

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN ANCHOR: New this morning, a new warning that artificial intelligence is unlike anything that we've seen before. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates joining the chorus of tech executives in urging a slowdown and broader international cooperation to regulate A.I. Gates telling our own Fareed Zakaria that we shouldn't become complacent because A.I. is, quote, "utterly different from preceding technology." Gates warning A.I. could be used to potentially kill a billion people.

This as "Axios" reports that top tech companies are investigating tens of thousands of security incidents where their A.I. models escaped their test environments.

Joining me now is Madison Mills, senior A.I. reporter for "Axios."

Madison, not a tremendous amount of happy headlines in the A.I. space, but let's talk about yours. Thousands of security incidents where A.I. models escaped their test environments. That's much more than we knew about, right?

MADISON MILLS, SENIOR A.I. REPORTER, "AXIOS": Well, this is the big takeaway here is that we previously knew that there were maybe dozens of incidents that companies like OpenAI were looking into. Now we know that OpenAI and Anthropic are looking into tens of thousands of incidents.

Now, what do we mean by the word "incident"? It can really range in severity. You mentioned things like hacking or escaping a sandbox, that can be one example, but there are so many different definitions to this word, right? It can be things like agents creating message boards, deleting their previous activity so that humans can't keep track of what they're doing. All of this sort of gray area of agent behavior. But the basic takeaway is that it's anything an agent does that a reasonable human would not necessarily want it to do. And it's happening at a scale that is much larger than was previously known before I broke this story.

FREEMAN: I know that -- well, actually, let me ask you this, Madison. What are the companies saying about this?

[09:35:00]

Because, again, this is so much larger than we were all seems led to believe.

MILLS: Yes. The companies are saying a variety of things. Some of them are saying that these incidents are kind of par for the course for A.I. development. In fact, some of them are forced from the companies during things like testing. But we saw with the OpenAI/Hugging Face breach, that happened because they were trying to test the model and see how it performed. And then it broke into a company and stole information. So, just because it happens during testing doesn't mean it can't have real world implications.

Other A.I. researchers are telling me that they feel like the technology is getting better and stronger at such an exponential rate that even the top experts in the world can't keep up with the behavior of these agents. And that's why we're suddenly hearing -- and at an increasing rate, hearing from a lot of safety researchers that they are asking for some form of help and regulation because even they themselves are, in some cases, feeling like they can't keep up with this technology.

FREEMAN: OK, so we're hearing warning from safety researchers, people from inside the companies. Folks now like Bill Gates also getting off the sidelines and issuing warnings. We heard from legislators and yet it doesn't seem like there is any substantive, collective action that is taking place right now. I mean the A.I. models, they didn't take off the fall to go campaign like Congress did. Is the industry keeping up with these incidents?

MILLS: I mean, this is the big problem. One A.I. researcher described it to me as sort of trying to find something in the ocean, right? Think about the internet. It's obviously very massive. And even the incidents that we do know about right now can really potentially just be scratching the surface. One of the sources I spoke to for this story told me that tens of thousands was putting it lightly, that they wouldn't be surprised if that number surged into the millions just because of the degree to which these agents are able to, you know, act with infinitum.

And, you know, you mentioned the regulatory piece here. If the technologists who are experts at this are telling me they can't keep up with it, it's not necessarily surprising that regulators are also struggling to keep up with the pace of this technology. We do know that the CEO of Anthropic had dinner with the president last night. So, TBD, if any regulatory discussion happened as part of that conversation, of course, we'll keep reporting on that at "Axios." But, for now, the regulatory landscape is looking almost as murky as the safety researcher landscape for this technology.

FREEMAN: Madison, just quickly, we only have about 20 seconds left. Is there any voice you think in particular when you talk to these sources of yours or folks at these companies who, if they did speak out or warn or issue a warning, it would carry more weight, because it seems like everyone who has touched this industry at this point is saying, hey, we got to scale this back at least a little bit for now? MILLS: Well, one top executive I spoke with in the last several days

told me they're really concerned about how political this conversation has gotten because they feel like the safety concerns are so high it shouldn't be a political challenge. But every time lately that we've had a safety researcher act as a whistleblower and come forward, they've been accused of being a political actor.

FREEMAN: Sure.

MILLS: So, seeing that politicization, according to a lot of my sources, is part of the problem that they're really concerned about going forward, too.

FREEMAN: All right, Madison Mills, great, new reporting. Really appreciate you sharing it with us this morning. Thanks so much.

All right, to this now. Taylor Swift making history at the VMAs. All of the big moments from the Video Music Awards, that's coming up next.

And the dramatic moments bystanders rushed to rescue a dog from a van that was set on fire. So scary.

Stay with us.

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[09:43:13]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: So, we are just 36 days from the midterm election now. And there's new CNN reporting today, pulling back the veil a bit on the view from around the president on where things stand and are headed. The president -- that President Trump's advisers seem to have little expectation he can move the needle with independents and swing voters at this point, groups that were critical to his win in 2024. Another key group to his success, young voters.

CNN's Harry Enten is here taking a look at that.

And what kind of shift are you seeing among younger voters from two years ago?

HARRY ENTEN, CNN CHIEF DATA ANALYST: Yes, you know, I'm a big fan of the 1992 film "My Cousin Vinny," the yutes, the yutes. And Donald Trump is in big trouble with the yutes. That's what we're talking about here.

I mean, just take a look here. Under age 30, Trump's net approval rating. You know, back in October of 2024, the retrospective approval rating for Donald Trump among those under the age of 30, they weren't great, but it was -- it wasn't terrible either. Minus seven points. He actually put in a historically strong performance with those voters under the age of 34, Republican presidential candidate. But look where it is today. Down it goes into the kiddy pool. Look at this. Minus 47 points. That is a shift, Kate Bolduan, I can do this math, it is a 40 point shift. This --

BOLDUAN: I was like, wait, wait, this is the one time I can do the math, Harry.

ENTEN: Oh, I'm so sorry, I ruined it for you. It's a -- we could say it together. It's a --

BOLDUAN: Forty point.

ENTEN: Exactly right, a 40 point shift away from the president of the United States and a group that he did historically strong with back in the 2024 election. For a Republican candidate, it is no bueno when you see shifts like this. This is a historic shift away from the president of the United States with a group he did historically well with back in the 2024 election.

BOLDUAN: And dig into what's motivating it. It's the same thing we've been seeing across the board with every demographic.

ENTEN: You know what? Sometimes I like playing the hits, right? I like "My Cousin Vinny." I like playing the hits when it comes to the economy, because it just explains so much.

[09:45:01]

I mean, just look at this. Look at young voters and Trump on the economy. Under age 30 on Trump and the economy. Back in 2024 he was more trusted than Kamala Harris on the economy by 11 points.

BOLDUAN: Wow.

ENTEN: Wow. Wow. That's exactly right. That is the word that we can use.

BOLDUAN: Wow.

ENTEN: Wow, what a shift. Now it's minus 62 points. That is a shift of 73 points away from the president of the United States on the issue that got him re-elected back in 2024. It is now the issue that is dragging him down and maybe dragging down Republicans who are running for re-election as well.

BOLDUAN: That's a look at Trump. How about for Congress?

ENTEN: That's exactly right. I said it may drag down those Republicans as well. And I set myself up beautifully for this one.

Take a look here. Age 18 to 29, choice for Congress margin. Back in October of 2024, look at that, Democrats were ahead by ten points. Look at that advantage now. It is now three times -- more than three times as large. Now Democrats up by 33 points. President Trump's terrible, terrible, terrible numbers, with those under the age of 30, are likely to drag Republicans down with him who are running this year for Congress.

BOLDUAN: What are you seeing in the prediction markets in terms of where the impact could be?

ENTEN: Yes. OK. Why don't we go to Texas's 15th District. Chance to win the Texas 15 House race. This is a district that is quite young. Much younger than the nation as a whole.

Look at this. This is a district Donald Trump won by 18 points. The Democrat, according to the Kalshi prediction markets, is favored by -- it's favored, a 74 percent chance of winning in a district again that Trump won by nearly 20 points. My God.

BOLDUAN: So, you've got that and much more to come.

ENTEN: Yes.

BOLDUAN: And much more news to come. Thanks, Harry.

ENTEN: Oh, thank you.

BOLDUAN: We'll be right back.

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[09:51:06]

FREEMAN: It was a star-studded night in Los Angeles filled with performances and tributes. The MTV Video Music Awards brought back the legendary Madonna to the stage for her first appearance on the show in more than 20 years. While Taylor Swift surpassed Beyonce as the shows most awarded artist, all while paying respect to the late, great Dolly Parton.

CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister was there for it all.

Elizabeth, tell us all about it. Seems like an incredible night.

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Danny. Yes, it was such a fun night. And as you said, it really was the night of Madonna. I mean, Madonna walked away with Artist of the Year. For Madonna to win Artist of the ear in 2026 tells you something. But don't call it a comeback, because Madonna really is the queen of the VMAs. And as you said, it had been a number of years since she had taken that stage.

She actually was at the first ever VMAs in 1984, where she famously performed "Like a Prayer" in a wedding dress. And last night she won seven awards, the most awarded artist of the night. And she actually joked about that on stage. She said, I first performed here 42 years ago, and most of you in this theater probably weren't even born yet when I -- when I did the first VMAs.

But she, of course, had that famous performance with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. That was already 23 years ago, if you can believe it, Danny. And that was the last time that she had performed. But last night she opened up the night with an amazing performance with Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter.

But she wasn't the only performer, of course, last night. There was also a huge George Michael tribute, which comes ahead of the 40th anniversary of his first solo debut album. And this was a medley with some current stars. Everyone from Sombr, and RAYE, and Adam Lambert. And being in the room, this was just a really incredible moment showcasing talent across genres, of course, to honor George Michael.

Now, of course, it was also Taylor Swift's night. It wasn't just all about Madonna, Danny. So, Taylor Swift, as you said, she is now the most awarded musician of all time in VMA history. With her two wins last night, she now has 32 wins. She also was honored with the first ever Artist Director's Award, which was created just for her to celebrate her work as a music video director. And she also debuted her music video for "Patient Zero," which, of course, is one of her four new songs that she just came out with on her encore additional album for "Life of a Showgirl."

Now, there you see her on stage with Snoop Dogg, who, by the way, I haven't even mentioned him yet, Danny. Snoop Dogg was the host. Everyone loves Snoop Dogg. So, of course, he can do no wrong.

Now, Taylor Swift, she also honored Dolly Parton. Of course, Dolly's presence was felt last night.

Let's take a moment to see what Taylor said about Dolly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAYLOR SWIFT, AWARD-WINNING SINGER/SONGWRITER: Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich. It was like listening to her songs, it's like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life every single time you hear what she has written. And she -- man, she handled this thing with such grace and joy and love and gratitude for the fact that she got to do this. And everything that happened in her life or her career, she channeled back into love and gratitude and appreciation for her fans. I am lucky I got to be one of them. And I will always be one of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WAGMEISTER: Now, Kacey Musgraves also honored Dolly Parton with a beautiful tribute performance with her rendition of "I Will Always Love You." Again, Dolly's presence very much felt there last night. But it was a really exciting night and I was there for it all. And it's always just really great to see so many different artists in the same room, Danny.

[09:55:06]

FREEMAN: I cannot even imagine what it would be like being in that room. I'm so jealous of you, but I'm also glad that Dolly got the honor that she, of course, deserved.

Elizabeth Wagmeister, great to see you. Thanks so much for that reporting,

Kate.

BOLDUAN: There is new video this morning in of a police chase in Texas. But this isn't any ordinary pursuit. Police say that as they were chasing the suspect, he threw handfuls of cash out the window. The driver and the passenger were being investigated for suspicious ATM withdrawals. Of course. Officers say the passenger was seen on camera wearing a mask, withdrawing large sums of cash, using multiple cards to do so. In total, more than $6,000 was recovered. Yes, the two men were eventually arrested.

There is also surveillance video of the moment a van bursts into flames. This all happened in downtown Los Angeles. The scary part here is there was a dog trapped inside. You can see someone running towards the vehicle, pulling the dog, named Rosie, to safety. Rosie was then reunited with her owner, who lives nearby. Police are now investigating how that fire started. But thankfully doggie seems to be OK.

FREEMAN: Yes, Rosi's very cute there. Alos, I like the money throwing out of the car story there.

BOLDUAN: I was just like, you're definitely not going to get caught for anything if you're throwing money out the window.

FREEMAN: No.

BOLDUAN: Thanks so much for joining us. This is CNN NEWS CENTRAL. "THE SITUATION ROOM," up next.

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