Dear One World Friends
We are committed to generating serious-minded, fact-based discussions in an effort to work with you to understand our increasingly complex world.
The first point to understand is that no one, not even the futurists building our new world have a full understanding of how the new AI tools they are building will end up transforming our world.
However, many of the futurists from Geoff Hinton, to Demis Hassibis to Dario Amodei are working hard to provide a good faith understanding – as best they can – of the Brave New World hurling our way.
It is therefore with great disappointment that I read dismissive, polemical pieces that seem more intent on scoring political points rather than illuminating. Indeed, one opinion piece that fits this category perfectly was the one penned by Andrew Kessler in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, Ignore the AI Hysteria. Ignore the AI Hysteria
Kessler’s business-as-usual approach to the AI revolution contrasts fundamentally with each of the serious-minded futurists he condemns. Indeed, it is precisely this kind of complacency that Ajeya Cotra condemns in this lengthy 80,000 Hours interview we shared with you yesterday, explaining that she believes we will live the equivalent of 10,000 years of progress in the next 25.
We are not against a respectful exchange of ideas, and Kessler may be right about the impact on jobs; however, to assert that there is zero existential risk flowing from the new tools we are building is an act of grave negligence in the face of the serious-minded concerns expressed by so many in a position to know, as you can see here:
Probability of Self-Destruction from AI
Sincerely,
Joe
