AI in on the march. Is the the AI safety movement ready?

Abstract

Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence are outpacing democratic oversight, leaving powerful technologies governed primarily by commercial interests. Despite diverse societal risks—ranging from algorithmic bias and job displacement to malicious use and existential threats—civic safety initiatives receive less than 0.1% of global AI funding. The current civil society response is small, geographically concentrated in the Global North, and strategically divided between advocates addressing immediate real-world harms and those prioritizing long-term extinction risks. To effectively challenge the narrative of technological inevitability and counter commercial pressures, the emerging movement requires greater coordination, expanded infrastructure, and funding models that empower decentralized public mobilization. – AI-generated abstract.