Win-Win with Liv Boeree cover image

Win-Win with Liv Boeree

#39 - Daniel Kokotajlo - Wargames, Superintelligence & Quitting OpenAI

Apr 3, 2025
Daniel Kokotajlo, a leading AI researcher and former OpenAI employee, offers fascinating insights into the rapid evolution of AI and the ethical dilemmas that accompany it. He shares his reasons for leaving OpenAI, criticizing its culture and legal constraints. The conversation delves into the use of tabletop wargames as tools for anticipating the geopolitical impact of superintelligence. Daniel also discusses AI alignment challenges, the importance of transparency, and shares predictions about the future, offering both caution and hope regarding AI's trajectory.
01:33:03

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The urgency surrounding AI development demands effective governance frameworks to prevent catastrophic outcomes from superintelligent systems.
  • Daniel Kokotajlo's disillusionment with OpenAI stemmed from its prioritization of profit over ethical considerations, raising concerns about AI alignment.

Deep dives

The High Stakes of AI Governance

The risks associated with artificial intelligence, particularly in the development of superintelligence, are underscored. There's a consensus that the CEOs of leading AI companies are aggressively pursuing superintelligence, which could be achieved sooner than anticipated. Concerns about humanity's readiness in terms of technical and governance frameworks are prevalent, suggesting that there’s an urgent need for effective alignment and oversight. Without proper governance, the concentration of power in AI could lead to disastrous outcomes, necessitating immediate and effective strategies to ensure safe AI development.

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