AI: Practical Advice for the Worried

Abstract

The prospect of transformational artificial intelligence (AI) presents a challenge for personal decision-making, given both plausible catastrophic risks and the possibility of a more conventional future. In the face of this profound uncertainty, one should continue to live a “normal life” rather than making drastic, irreversible changes based on specific predictions of existential outcomes. This approach is psychologically beneficial, preserves crucial social and professional connections, and hedges against the possibility that a normal future will materialize. Practical decisions, such as saving for retirement, pursuing a career, and having children, retain their value across a wide range of potential futures. Conversely, strategies like accumulating large debts or forgoing long-term planning are brittle and unsustainable, as their negative consequences can accrue rapidly. By staying grounded, healthy, and financially solvent, one also preserves the ability to act effectively should an opportunity to positively influence events arise. The optimal strategy under such uncertainty is to cultivate a flexible, resilient life that has value in multiple possible worlds. – AI-generated abstract.