Making Sense with Sam Harris cover image

Making Sense with Sam Harris

#379 — Regulating Artificial Intelligence

Aug 12, 2024
Sam Harris talks with Scott Wiener, a California State Senator focused on AI legislation, and Yoshua Bengio, a pioneer in deep learning and AI safety. They dive into California's proposed Senate Bill 1047, addressing urgent discussions on the need for AI regulation amid rapid technological advancements. The trio debates the risks of an AI arms race and differing expert perspectives on safety protocols. They also explore the intricate challenges of balancing innovation with responsible oversight, highlighting the complexities of regulating emergent technologies.
34:21

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The new California bill, SB 1047, mandates comprehensive safety evaluations for powerful AI systems to mitigate catastrophic risks posed by their deployment.
  • The debate within the AI community highlights a significant divide on the perceived risks of advanced AI, emphasizing the importance of preparedness regardless of differing predictions about AGI timelines.

Deep dives

The Need for AI Safety Legislation

Legislative efforts, such as California's SB 1047, are being introduced to mitigate the risks associated with large-scale artificial intelligence models. This bill aims to require companies that develop particularly powerful AI systems to conduct comprehensive safety evaluations before releasing their models. If these evaluations indicate a high risk of catastrophic harm, companies are mandated to take reasonable measures to mitigate that risk. With the California Senate already passing the bill and it nearing an assembly floor vote, it represents a significant step toward encouraging accountability among AI developers.

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