LessWrong (30+ Karma) The Coalition
Nov 24, 2025
Explore the urgent call for an international coalition to delay the development of superintelligence. The hosts discuss historical rivalries transformed into alliances, highlighting lessons from past conflicts like the Hellenic League. They argue that existential threats can unite traditional foes like the US and China. Delving into the implications of halting AI advancements, they assess the effectiveness of non-proliferation agreements and stress the need for concrete global action to manage the risks. It's a compelling blend of history, cooperation, and foresight.
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Episode notes
Coalition Frame Over Nonproliferation
- The authors compare their AI halt proposal to historical defensive coalitions rather than only to non-proliferation treaties.
- Coalitions offer a better frame for why rivals would temporarily cooperate against an urgent existential threat.
Rivals United Against Greater Foes
- The episode lists historical coalitions where rivals paused hostilities to face a common enemy, like Athens and Sparta against Persia and the WWII Allies.
- These examples show deep rivalries can be suspended when an existential external threat appears.
Urgency Reframes Rivalries
- Serious, imminent threats can make ideological rivalries momentarily irrelevant, enabling cooperation between adversaries.
- Churchill's reaction to Germany's invasion of the USSR illustrates how urgency reframes priorities.