“The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Fiction” by Raelifin

Nov 3, 2025

Explore how iconic films like War Games shaped national security policies, influencing leaders like Reagan to revamp cybersecurity. Discover fiction's unexpected power in driving real-world tech initiatives, from space privatization to educational AI stories. The conversation dives into how narratives can inspire innovation and social change while warning against clichéd tropes. With a focus on responsible storytelling, the podcast argues for fiction's role in accurately reflecting evolving AI dynamics and educating the public.

15:04

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

question_answer

ANECDOTE

WarGames Prompted Real Policy Change

Ronald Reagan watched WarGames and ordered a national security review after seeing its hacker-AI scenario.
The DoD then updated cybersecurity policy and laws in response to the movie's influence.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Fiction Shaping Strategic Defense Interest

Reagan's interest in the Strategic Defense Initiative was partly linked to technologies in films he admired.
His acting background and movie preferences shaped policy enthusiasm like 'Star Wars.'

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Sci‑Fi Inspired Real Innovators

Many scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs credit science fiction for inspiring their careers and inventions.
Examples include Carl Sagan, Tim Berners-Lee, Sergey Brin, and SpaceX naming drawn from Ian M. Banks.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

War Games Prompted Real Policy Change

00:22 • 43sec

chevron_right

Reagan's Fictional Influences on Defense Policy

01:06 • 45sec

chevron_right

Fiction Shaping Leaders' Views on Technology

01:51 • 39sec

chevron_right

Literature Inspiring Scientific Breakthroughs

02:29 • 32sec

chevron_right

Science Fiction's Role in Inspiring Innovators

03:02 • 31sec

chevron_right

Fiction Driving Social and Political Change

03:32 • 33sec

chevron_right

Small Nudges Accumulate into Big Effects

04:05 • 1min

chevron_right

AI Fiction Needs Updating for the LLM Era

05:06 • 57sec

chevron_right

The Opportunity for Educational AI Stories

06:03 • 23sec

chevron_right

Risks of Poor AI Storytelling

06:26 • 50sec

chevron_right

Why Fiction Persuades Better Than Nonfiction

07:16 • 20sec

chevron_right

Conjunction Fallacy and Vivid Details

07:36 • 42sec

chevron_right

Less Defensiveness and Reduced Backfire

08:18 • 52sec

chevron_right

Deep Attention Through Storytelling

09:10 • 42sec

chevron_right

Authorial Freedom to Explore Consequences

09:52 • 45sec

chevron_right

Vibes and Memes Drive Cultural Impact

10:37 • 43sec

chevron_right

Authorial Responsibility in Dual-Use Storytelling

11:20 • 47sec

chevron_right

Examples of Fictional Misconceptions

12:07 • 1min

chevron_right

Debiasing Fiction to Better Track Reality

13:21 • 13sec

chevron_right

Fiction as a Tool to Educate on Emerging Ideas

13:34 • 37sec

chevron_right

Balancing Rigor with Engaging Storytelling

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality

Eliezer Yudkowsky

#53

• Mentioned in 190 episodes

Dune

Frank Herbert

Dune, written by Frank Herbert, is set in a feudal interstellar society where noble houses control planetary fiefs. The story follows Paul Atreides, whose family is tasked with ruling the inhospitable desert planet Arrakis, the sole source of melange, a substance crucial for extending life and enhancing mental abilities. The novel delves into the intricate politics, religion, ecology, and technology of this futuristic world, as various factions vie for control of Arrakis and its valuable spice. Paul, with his unique abilities and training by the Bene Gesserit, becomes a key figure in this struggle and eventually assumes the role of a messianic leader among the native Fremen people.

#2571

• Mentioned in 14 episodes

AI 2041

Ten Visions for Our Future

Chen Qiufan

Kai-Fu Lee

In this book, Kai-Fu Lee and Chen Qiufan imagine the world in 2041 and how it will be shaped by AI. The book combines speculative storytelling and scientific analysis to introduce readers to various AI technologies such as deep learning, mixed reality, robotics, artificial general intelligence, and autonomous weapons. It explores the potential benefits and harms of these technologies and their impact on daily life, including topics like autonomous vehicles, deepfake videos, augmented reality, job loss, and the implementation of Universal Basic Income.

• Mentioned in 1,315 episodes

1984

George Orwell

Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.

#12020

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Crystal Society

Max Harms

#10646

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

H. G. Wells' "The World Set Free" is a science fiction novel exploring the devastating consequences of atomic warfare. Published in 1914, it depicts a future where atomic bombs are used in widespread conflict, leading to widespread destruction and societal collapse. The novel's prescient depiction of atomic weapons and their potential for global devastation is striking. It explores themes of war, technology, and the potential for humanity's self-destruction. The book's impact on public awareness of the dangers of nuclear weapons is undeniable, making it a significant work in both science fiction and political commentary.

#707

• Mentioned in 37 episodes

Uncle Tom's cabin

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Published in 1852, 'Uncle Tom’s Cabin' is a seminal work by Harriet Beecher Stowe that depicts the harsh realities of slavery in the United States. The novel follows the story of Uncle Tom, a dignified and religious enslaved man, and Eliza, a fugitive slave, among other characters. It highlights the cruelty and injustices of the slave system and the emotional toll on enslaved individuals and their families. The book was a massive success, selling over 300,000 copies in its first year and becoming the second-best-selling book of the 19th century after the Bible. It played a significant role in fueling the abolitionist cause and is credited with influencing public opinion on slavery.

#418

• Mentioned in 53 episodes

The Jungle

Upton Sinclair

Published in 1906, 'The Jungle' follows the life of Lithuanian immigrant Jurgis Rudkus and his family as they navigate the brutal realities of working-class life in Chicago's meatpacking district, known as Packingtown. The novel highlights issues such as public health hazards, extreme poverty, and the cruel treatment of workers and animals. Despite Sinclair's intention to expose labor abuses, the public reaction primarily focused on the sanitation issues in the meatpacking industry, leading to significant legislative changes, including the passage of the U.S. Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.

[Meta: This is Max Harms. I wrote a novel about China and AGI, which comes out today. This essay from my fiction newsletter has been slightly modified for LessWrong.]

In the summer of 1983, Ronald Reagan sat down to watch the film War Games, starring Matthew Broderick as a teen hacker. In the movie, Broderick's character accidentally gains access to a military supercomputer with an AI that almost starts World War III.

“The only winning move is not to play.”

After watching the movie, Reagan, newly concerned with the possibility of hackers causing real harm, ordered a full national security review. The response: “Mr. President, the problem is much worse than you think.” Soon after, the Department of Defense revamped their cybersecurity policies and the first federal directives and laws against malicious hacking were put in place.

But War Games wasn't the only story to influence Reagan. His administration pushed for the Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars") in part, perhaps, because the central technology—a laser that shoots down missiles—resembles the core technology behind the 1940 spy film Murder in the Air, which had Reagan as lead actor. Reagan was apparently such a superfan of The Day the Earth Stood Still [...]

---

Outline:

(05:05) AI in Particular

(06:45) Whats Going On Here?

(11:19) Authorial Responsibility

The original text contained 10 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

---

First published:
November 3rd, 2025

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/uQak7ECW2agpHFsHX/the-unreasonable-effectiveness-of-fiction

---

Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

---