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Pathetic attempt at regulatory capture. Let’s all be smart enough to not fall for this crap, eh?

A4ET8a8uTh0 3y ago
While we might ( rightfully ) recognize this blitzkrieg for what it is, the general population likely does not and may even agree to keep a lid on something it does not understand. Come to think of it. Just how many people actually understand it? I mean.. I think I have some idea, but I certainly did not dig in enough to consider myself an expert in any way shape or form ( all the while, Linkedin authorities of all kinds present themselves as SMEs after building something simple using chatgpt like html website ). And while politicians ( even the ones approaching senility ) are smarter than your average bear, they certainly know the deal. It is not like the same regulatory capture did not happen before with other promising technologies. They just might pretend they don't understand.
- progrus 3y ago
  Maybe so, but then I would recommend making an effort to arm them with truths and critical thinking skills. It doesn’t have to go the same way every time.
Symmetry 3y ago
That might be why Sam Altman signed it but why do you think that all the academics did so as well. Do you think he just bribed them all or something?
- vadansky 3y ago
  Not saying they were, but it's not that expensive, looks like it starts at $50,000 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/13/493739074/50-years-ago-sugar-industry-quietly-paid-scientists-to-point-blame-at-fat https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/13/493739074...
- aero-deck 3y ago
  I think academics are much, much more naive than we like to think. The same trick that pharma played on doctors is being played here. Just because you can do fancy math doesn't mean you understand how to play the game.
- MitPitt 3y ago
  Decades of research in every field being sponsored by corporations haven't made academics' interests clear for you yet?
- clnq 3y ago
  There will always be enough academics to sign anything even marginally notorious.
- stale2002 3y ago
  AI Academics have significant motivation as well to attempt to stop this new field of research. That motivation being that all their current research fiefdoms are now outdated/worthless.
kalkin 3y ago
Two of the three Turing award winners for ML: AI x-risk is real. HN commenters: let's be smarter than that eh? Unlike academia, those of us who hang out at news.ycombinator.com are not captured by the tech industry and can see what's really important.
luxuryballs 3y ago
I’m smart enough to not fall for all sorts of things as I sit here and watch Congress pass bullshit on C-SPAN anyways. It can’t be stopped, any attempts to influence are just teaching the system how to get around objections. Until power is actually removed the money will continue to flow.

While we might ( rightfully ) recognize this blitzkrieg for what it is, the general population likely does not and may even agree to keep a lid on something it does not understand. Come to think of it. Just how many people actually understand it? I mean.. I think I have some idea, but I certainly did not dig in enough to consider myself an expert in any way shape or form ( all the while, Linkedin authorities of all kinds present themselves as SMEs after building something simple using chatgpt like html website ). And while politicians ( even the ones approaching senility ) are smarter than your average bear, they certainly know the deal. It is not like the same regulatory capture did not happen before with other promising technologies. They just might pretend they don't understand.

progrus 3y ago
Maybe so, but then I would recommend making an effort to arm them with truths and critical thinking skills. It doesn’t have to go the same way every time.

Symmetry 3y ago

That might be why Sam Altman signed it but why do you think that all the academics did so as well. Do you think he just bribed them all or something?

vadansky 3y ago
Not saying they were, but it's not that expensive, looks like it starts at $50,000 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/13/493739074/50-years-ago-sugar-industry-quietly-paid-scientists-to-point-blame-at-fat https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/13/493739074...
aero-deck 3y ago
I think academics are much, much more naive than we like to think. The same trick that pharma played on doctors is being played here. Just because you can do fancy math doesn't mean you understand how to play the game.
MitPitt 3y ago
Decades of research in every field being sponsored by corporations haven't made academics' interests clear for you yet?
clnq 3y ago
There will always be enough academics to sign anything even marginally notorious.
stale2002 3y ago
AI Academics have significant motivation as well to attempt to stop this new field of research. That motivation being that all their current research fiefdoms are now outdated/worthless.

kalkin 3y ago

Two of the three Turing award winners for ML: AI x-risk is real. HN commenters: let's be smarter than that eh? Unlike academia, those of us who hang out at news.ycombinator.com are not captured by the tech industry and can see what's really important.

luxuryballs 3y ago

I’m smart enough to not fall for all sorts of things as I sit here and watch Congress pass bullshit on C-SPAN anyways. It can’t be stopped, any attempts to influence are just teaching the system how to get around objections. Until power is actually removed the money will continue to flow.