Takeoff speeds have a huge effect on what it means to work on AI x-risk

Abstract

The speed of artificial intelligence (AI) takeoff, whether fast or slow, has a significant impact on the strategies and approaches of individuals and organizations working on AI x-risk mitigation. In a fast takeoff scenario, AI takeover risks remain largely unchanged, and x-risk-motivated individuals play a more prominent role in alignment research. In contrast, in a slow takeoff scenario, alignment problems manifest in non-AGI systems, leading to industrial research on various aspects of alignment. This divergence in perspectives underscores the need for considering different research strategies and collaboration paradigms in each scenario. – AI-generated abstract.