We need to talk
In a Nutshell
A man linked to Pause AI and Stop AI movements was arrested for throwing a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's house, charged with attempted murder; the video condemns this as stochastic terrorism fueled by violent anti-AI rhetoric, while distinguishing it from legitimate resistance like union actions or passive sabotage. AI acceleration is inevitable due to geostrategic and market forces, urging adaptation over deceleration—lean into tools, push post-labor economics, and foster honest dialogue across divides without illegal acts. Historical analogies like electricity highlight AI's untapped potential as a general-purpose technology, demanding realism from optimists amid rising fears of job loss and societal upheaval.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Person arrested for throwing a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's house. According to Sam's blog, the munition bounced off the outside and didn't do damage; someone else said it went through a window. Suspect charged with attempted murder. Suspect associated with Pause AI movement and Stop AI movement.
Outspoken critic of effective altruism and Less Wrong school of thought. Avoid naming names; focus on real anger, fear, frustration from legitimate sources. Violence not justified, even if not calling it terrorism yet. Personally believes it amounts to stochastic terrorism. Act by single individual could be mental illness or ideological capture; full picture unknown, so no jumping to conclusions.
People said: firebomb data centers even at expense of going to war; willing to go to jail to stop AI. This is how stochastic terrorism works. Debates fine online when about superintelligence, alignment problem. Violence achieves nothing to slow or stop AI, even setting aside legal/moral issues; likely opposite effect, marginalizing critics as terrorists.
Not conflating decelerationists, doomers, stochastic terrorists with workers/union members, Gen Z sabotaging AI rollouts via passive resistance (unplugging EVs), legal tools like union actions. Different dimensions of resistance. Illegal means include destruction of property, threats, death threats (not protected speech). Predicted it would get worse before better.
No large wave of AI-based layoffs yet; generative AI barely integrated into military operations. Not seen full capabilities of current tools, let alone future evolution. Already this much anger/fear. Accused of optimism (rose-colored glasses), but optimists must be realists. Pro-AI, pro-acceleration, pro-human/societal evolution. Seeing real-time parallels to past rebellions/protests.
First organized protests outside OpenAI and Anthropic: small, on Saturday, silly signs (e.g., "You wouldn't download the Torment of Nexus"), some dressed like wizards. Hard to take seriously, but acknowledge fear at many levels: artists/writers/copywriters/freelancers losing work (check freelancer subreddits).
Successful copywriters lean in, use AI; clients care only about results. Minority. Advocate post-labor economics: livelihoods, civil power, leverage, dignity not tied to labor.
Naming stochastic terrorism to enable frank conversation on expressing anger/frustration/concerns. All technology double-edged sword (ambivalent): generative AI, nuclear, internet. How used/deployed matters; how we react/interact as integrating into society.
Acceleration is default due to geostrategic competition (America vs. China), free market competition. Incentive structures crystal clear; can't resist. People get crushed regardless of stance (pro/anti-AI, optimistic/pessimistic/skeptical). Belief structures stress-tested. General-purpose technology like AI: continuous improvement, new uses discovered over time.
Electricity: initial uses simple (light after Edison's thousands of tries), then electromagnets, motors, radios, chips. AI downstream of electricity; still discovering electricity uses after century. AI pervasive; irreducible complexities, can't fully know future.
Decelerationist view logical (slow to prepare), but better to adapt. Be honest about fear/anxiety; courageous conversations across camps for better adaptation/coordination without violence/illegal acts.
Yellow things behind are sound traps for studio overhaul to record books better. Be safe and be kind.
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