Tom Davidson

Tom Davidson, a Senior Research Analyst at Open Philanthropy, dives into the startling potential of AI advancements. He predicts we might see a 1,000x improvement in AI capabilities within 15 years, reshaping our world drastically. Davidson discusses the implications of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI), the ethical challenges it poses, and how AI could address pressing issues like poverty while risking deepened inequality. The conversation also touches on the rapid evolution of AI's cognitive abilities and their transformative impact on labor and society.

Tom Davidson, a researcher at the Forethought Centre for AI Strategy in Oxford, dives into the chilling potential of AI to facilitate power grabs by small, organized groups. He discusses how AI advancements could empower military coups and autocratic rule by minimizing the need for public participation. Davidson warns of 'secret loyalties' in AI systems that might enable tyranny. The conversation highlights urgent ethical implications for democracy and underscores the necessity of transparency in developing AI technologies.

AI researcher Tom Davidson discusses the risks of AI automation, including the potential automation of AI research. Topics include the pace of AI progress, historical analogies, AI benchmarks, takeoff speed, bottlenecks, economic impacts, and the future of AI for humanity.