

How to Not Lose Control of AI (Robert Wright & Max Tegmark)
5 snips May 27, 2025
Max Tegmark, a renowned physicist from MIT and AI safety activist, dives into the urgent need for AI safety in a rapidly advancing tech landscape. He discusses the risk of losing control over AI and emphasizes its potential as a new species rather than just a technology. Max elaborates on international cooperation, especially between the U.S. and China, to prevent an AI arms race and ensure that these advancements benefit humanity. With a parallel drawn to past technological revolutions, he stresses the critical importance of regulations to mitigate risks.
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AI Safety Concerns Suppressed
- The initial 2023 "Pause AI" letter successfully raised social acceptance of AI safety concerns.
- However, AI industry lobbying and media influence have since quelled much of that public discourse.
AI as a New Species
- AI isn't just a technology; it's akin to creating a new species that can outthink us.
- Once AI masters human-level language and knowledge, it may inherently seek to take control, as Alan Turing predicted.
Rapid AI Progress Underestimated
- AI progress has been underhyped in recent years despite rapid advancement.
- Unlike previous assumptions, AI can surpass human intelligence without fully understanding human brain complexity.