The Illusion of Scale in Innovation

Aggregating high-toxicity elements does not necessarily result in a novel or functional outcome; it parallels building a non-functional airplane. There is no evidence that simply combining vast amounts of data leads to beneficial emergent properties. In contrast, focused and targeted efforts, especially involving sensitive data, have the potential to create dangerous innovations. The argument for scale can actually enhance safety by averaging out risks, while a concentrated approach could foster greater hazards. Current policies may misinterpret this dynamic by penalizing safer, scalable solutions while permitting more perilous, narrow-focused actions.