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“Ptolemy's failing lay in the conceit of the presupposition that the Earth was at the center of the solar system. The failing of the Best-and-Brightest is in believing their own hype, i.e. that they are indeed so much smarter that they can't be suckered into the newest doomsday cult.”

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Peter, do you think that the folks sounding alarm bells about AI are Malthusian doom sayers, or is there legitimately something to worry about?

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I think it's likely just another panic. As Nellie Bowles wrote in TFP, the people who are calling for restriction and regulation have already established their market position - conveniently.

AI may be a big disruptor like the Internet was, but I'm not buying into "doom of civilization" hype. Real AI, as in thinking machines, is very far away.

There's also no putting the genie back in the bottle. Those who think it can be regulated are kidding themselves - unless they've got ulterior motives.

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