Making Sense with Sam Harris - Subscriber Content #435 - The Last Invention
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Oct 2, 2025 Andy Mills, a seasoned reporter and co-creator of The Last Invention, joins Sam Harris to explore the dual-edged sword of AI. They discuss startling accusations of a Silicon Valley coup aiming to replace government with AI, and fears from insiders about AI's political dominance. The conversation shifts to the accelerationist mindset, where AI promises unprecedented breakthroughs, juxtaposed against alarmist views warning of existential risks. With predictions of human-level intelligence within years, they debate whether to curb AI development radically or prepare responsibly for its arrival.
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Signal Tip About A Silicon Valley Plot
- Andy Mills recounts a tip from a former Silicon Valley exec who feared his phone was tapped and claimed a plot to replace government with AI.
- The reporter traced names and claims, finding some elements unverified but revealing broader accelerationist ambitions.
AGI As A Digital Supermind
- Accelerationists believe AGI will replace most human jobs and reshape institutions from schools to nation-states.
- They frame their project as creating a digital supermind equivalent to building a new intelligent species.
AGI Timelines Are Shockingly Short
- People closest to AI expect systems to surpass humans on most cognitive tasks within a few years.
- That short timeline explains the massive investment and urgency in the AI race.
