PODCAST RELAUNCH: It's time to urgently act on mitigating existential threats of AI

Preparing for AI: The AI Podcast for Everybody

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"Preparing for AI" relaunches this week as the AI Podcast for Everybody. We are broadening our mission to raise awareness and to empower listeners to act on helping to stop the existential threat of unmitigated frontier model development.
But is AI reallya looming existential threat or an overhyped fantasy? This episode of "Preparing for AI" tackles this provocative question, offering insights into safety, governance and alignment issues of AI development. Our discussion spans the dual concerns surrounding an omnipotent AI already influencing powerhouses like OpenAI and the possibility that current advancements are merely overblown projections. We dive into the dire warnings from experts, highlighting estimates that predict up 20%, 50& adn even 99.99% chances of AI threatening humanity. Amidst these fears, we emphasize the critical need for AI development that aligns with societal well-being, especially given unchecked models and the growing military applications of AI technology.
We draw urgent parallels between AI governance and immediate global challenges like climate change and public health. Two paths to avert a dystopian future are explored: a catastrophic AI incident sparking global backlash, or a dramatic shift in public sentiment urging swift governmental action. Our goal is to galvanize awareness and activism, urging listeners to influence policymakers. For those eager to dive deeper, we recommend the illuminating content of Robert Miles and Blue Dot’s comprehensive AI courses. This episode underscores the inadequacies in current legislative efforts and calls for more robust regulatory frameworks.
The role of corporate influence in shaping AI governance cannot be overstated. We scrutinize Microsoft's massive stake in OpenAI and the shift in OpenAI's board dynamics, leading to the exit of members with ethical concerns. The competitive landscape among tech giants like Google, Meta, and Anthropic is dissected, revealing the intertwining of ethical dilemmas and profit motives. Nvidia's rise due to its pivotal role in the AI boom is also examined. We stress the necessity of government and public intervention given the slim chances of self-regulation by these corporations. Discussing the EU's AI Act and drawing parallels to nuclear oversight, we reflect on the future of AI governance, advocating for transparency, safety, and robust intervention to navigate the ethical challenges and risks posed by advancing AI technologies.
Robert Miles- "AI Ruined My Year"- https://youtu.be/2ziuPUeewK0?si=LYLzS7Y9ibP8Kt8E
Robert Miles- "There's No Rule That Says We'll Make It"- https://youtu.be/JD_iA7imAPs?si=gNDoBm--WW9Tupjn
BlueDot- AI Safety Fundamentals- https://aisafetyfundamentals.com
AISafety.info- Your Guide To AI Safety- https://aisafety.info
AISafety.info- Get Involved- https://coda.io/@alignmentdev/ai-safety-info

Chapters

1. Welcome to Preparing for AI (00:00:00)

2. There are only two ways to prevent a dystopian future (00:01:09)

3. Unpacking safe development of AI (00:11:47)

4. What is the solution? (00:27:01)

5. A note of optimism in an ocean of p(doom)? (00:43:23)

6. Altman Schmaltman (Outro Track) (00:47:14)