You're question about this technology mistakes the fear for the thing prompting the fear. Picture someone saying that you need to slow down while driving toward an area. The request to slow down isn't mitigated just because there are examples of things which go faster or which go the same speed. It's not the speed that causes the fear, but the potential things ahead.

There are extremely good arguments for caution in the development of artificial intelligence. It's reasonable to suppose it will be society altering at a minimum, but in not so improbably extremes it threatens extinction and immortality.

As for what makes this advance notable to someone cautioning speed? It's explicitly an example of a removed limiter, data collection and labeling. As such, it represents a potential acceleration of progress.

Given speed being seen as in conflict with caution, increase in speed can be thought of, potentially, especially when fearful, as a reduction in caution.