The Lawfare Podcast Scaling Laws: The Ivory Tower and AI (Live from IHS's Technology, Liberalism, and Abundance Conference)
4 snips
Oct 1, 2025 Neil Chilson, Head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, and Gus Hurwitz, Senior Fellow at Penn Carey Law, delve into the complex relationship between academia and AI governance. They discuss why AI policy feels muddled and whether a dedicated policy is necessary. The duo critiques existing institutional incentives that hinder interdisciplinary collaboration and shares innovative ideas for teaching engineers about policy effectively. They express optimism about the potential for universities to innovate in response to AI challenges.
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Episode notes
Reframe AI As Advanced Computing
- AI is better framed as advanced computing rather than a single monolithic new thing.
- That perspective makes regulation feel like regulating cutting-edge computing, not a novel magical category.
Policy Panic Drives Scattershot Laws
- The rush for AI-specific policy often stems from a social-media hangover and a fear of repeating past regulatory mistakes.
- That panic pushes scattershot laws that restate obvious prohibitions rather than tailored fixes.
Doomer Voices Changed The Political Moment
- Multiple groups amplify AI alarmism, including an unusual doomer contingent within the industry.
- That internal industry alarmism changed the political dynamic and accelerated calls for regulation.