Lawfare Daily: Dan Hendrycks on National Security in the Age of Superintelligent AI
Mar 20, 2025
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Dan Hendrycks, Director of the Center for AI Safety, discusses groundbreaking strategies on national security in the age of superintelligent AI. He explores the concept of mutual assured AI malfunction as a new deterrence strategy, drawing parallels to nuclear policies. The conversation also delves into the urgent need for international cooperation to regulate AI access, emphasizing the potential risks and ethical considerations. Hendrycks advocates for heightened government oversight in AI security to protect against misuse and ensure accountability.
The emergence of superintelligent AI poses unprecedented challenges in military deterrence, necessitating a coordinated strategy to manage its implications.
The introduction of Mutual Assured AI Malfunction emphasizes the need for global cooperation in AI governance to prevent catastrophic outcomes.
Deep dives
The Rise of Superintelligence
As AI capabilities advance rapidly, the concept of superintelligence emerges, defined as an AI that surpasses human experts in virtually every intellectual domain. The discussion emphasizes that this development poses unprecedented challenges in military deterrence and international power dynamics, drawing parallels with the nuclear age. Experts suggest that an AI arms race could evoke greater unpredictability than historical nuclear tensions, urging the need for a coordinated superintelligence strategy. This strategy is not merely academic, but essential to manage the profound implications of advanced AI technologies.
Mutual Assured AI Malfunction (MAIM)
The innovative concept of Mutual Assured AI Malfunction (MAIM) is introduced as a new deterrence framework, akin to the historical mutual assured destruction during the Cold War. MAIM suggests that great powers may intentionally sabotage each other's AI advancements to prevent unilateral dominance and potential catastrophic consequences. This framework invites a more cooperative global approach to AI development, aiming to stabilize international relations and encourage responsible technological growth. By framing it as a necessary measure to avert risk, the authors call for structured, collaborative efforts among nations.
Strategic Competitiveness and Cooperation
Amid rising strategic competition, particularly between the U.S. and China, the importance of cooperation in AI governance is paramount. Historical lessons from arms control and technological competition highlight the need for a non-proliferation approach to potentially catastrophic AI capabilities. The authors argue that ensuring effective governance can prevent the dangerous proliferation of advanced technologies to rogue actors, thus enhancing global security. This cooperative effort, facilitated by bilateral and multilateral agreements, is essential to achieve stability and mitigate risks effectively.
Role of States and AI Labs in Safety Management
The podcast highlights the shared responsibility of state actors and AI labs in managing the safety of AI technologies to mitigate risks. Rather than relying solely on market forces, there should be clear mechanisms for AI labs to test their developments against malicious applications before release. Additionally, governments need to actively engage in oversight to learn from potential threats and maintain a competitive edge in technology. This dual approach facilitates a safer AI development landscape while addressing the competitive pressures faced by corporations.
Dan Hendrycks, Director of the Center for AI Safety, joins Kevin Frazier, the AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the UT Austin School of Law and Contributing Editor at Lawfare, to discuss his recent paper (co-authored with former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang), “Superintelligence Strategy.”