The Macroscience Podcast Metascience 101 - EP6: “Safety and Science”
6 snips
Oct 16, 2024 
Dylan Matthews, a journalist known for his insights on economics, joins experts Tyler Cowen, a professor at George Mason University, Matt Clancy, and Jacob Trefethen from Open Philanthropy. They dive into the balancing act between scientific advancement and safety, using historical case studies to illustrate their points. Discussions cover the dual-edged nature of innovation, ethical responsibilities in frontier science, and the risks associated with AI competition. They emphasize the importance of effective risk management to harness the benefits of scientific progress.
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Science as Driver of Prosperity
- Economists generally view scientific progress as crucial for global wealth and well-being.
- This perspective stems from models linking technological advancements to economic growth and human flourishing.
Warfare as a Risk of Growth
- Tyler Cowen believes the greatest long-term risk of economic growth is increased warfare capabilities.
- More productive power translates to greater destructive potential, amplifying the risks of future conflicts.
Democratization of Risk
- The increasing accessibility of potentially harmful technologies raises safety concerns.
- While bioweapons development previously required specialized expertise, AI could democratize access, increasing risks.