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HenryOrlando's avatar

I think I need to understand two things better. 1. What would stop a authoritarian power (be it China, Russia, North Korea, Iran or some other country) to work on AI in secret even if they did agree to some AI limits or inspection via a treaty process? Have we been here before with the nuclear bomb? 2. I think I need a refresh on how things would go for the "free world" if the "authoritarian world" won an AI war so they indeed could dominate the world with their terms? Which system having the high ground be the better option? Seems like that would not go too well for freedom people. Then maybe I am still too stuck in the "us vs them" world view. This lack of clarity in spite of reading and watching Bob since before our at least arguably authoritarian President was with us the first time in 2016. I am just glad I am not the one who has to make the decisions on how to proceed in these matters. Sigh.

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Grayson Reim's avatar

I'm not sure to what extent the escalating tensions with China are being driven by defense and China Hawks, as much as they are being influenced by corporate interests. It seems that the dominance of the American tech industry is under threat, essentially being outcompeted, so these companies are taking steps to hinder the competition. Eric Schmidt is an interesting case in point, given his pursuit of Cypriot citizenship (https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/11/9/21547055/eric-schmidt-google-citizen-cyprus-european-union) and his recent advice to students to steal TikTok's intellectual property (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ex-google-ceo-schmidt-advised-232209286.html). Something about it feels a bit disingenuous.

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