Bipartisan fears grow over AI
6m
Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon, political opposites, voiced shared fears that artificial intelligence posed an existential risk, underscoring how AI bridged deep partisan divides.
by Ryan Calo Reposted by Suresh Venkatasubramanian
Banning "superintelligent" 🤢 AI plays right into industry rhetoric and keeps the focus off immediate, real world harms such as privacy, bias, and labor. Literally the same name of the silly Bostrom book everyone was reading 12 years ago.
September 16, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Banning "superintelligent" 🤢 AI plays right into industry rhetoric and keeps the focus off immediate, real world harms such as privacy, bias, and labor. Literally the same name of the silly Bostrom book everyone was reading 12 years ago.
Some things I believe about AI, until further notice
It has been a fascinating week in the world of artificial intelligence. The subject has broken containment, and it seems like everyone is talking about it. I was listening to a football podcast and the hosts started talking about AI killing…
It has been a fascinating week in the world of artificial intelligence. The subject has broken containment, and it seems like everyone is talking about it. I was listening to a football podcast and the hosts started talking about AI killing…
Some things I believe about AI, until further notice
It has been a fascinating week in the world of artificial intelligence. The subject has broken containment, and it seems like everyone is talking about it. I was listening to a football podcast and the hosts started talking about AI killing everyone. It would be fair to say that AI has now gone mainstream, and not only that, it has become a hot political subject.
www.technollama.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Some things I believe about AI, until further notice
It has been a fascinating week in the world of artificial intelligence. The subject has broken containment, and it seems like everyone is talking about it. I was listening to a football podcast and the hosts started talking about AI killing…
It has been a fascinating week in the world of artificial intelligence. The subject has broken containment, and it seems like everyone is talking about it. I was listening to a football podcast and the hosts started talking about AI killing…
by David G. Rand Reposted by Gordon Pennycook
🚨New WP: Protecting users from AI persuasion🚨
🔸A 1-paragraph AI literacy treatment (explaining AIs can be told to pursue non-accuracy goals/to persuade) cuts AI dialogue political persuasion by ~half!
🔸No sig effect on general genAI trust
arxiv.org/abs/2609.16432
w/ @rorchinik.bsky.social
🔸A 1-paragraph AI literacy treatment (explaining AIs can be told to pursue non-accuracy goals/to persuade) cuts AI dialogue political persuasion by ~half!
🔸No sig effect on general genAI trust
arxiv.org/abs/2609.16432
w/ @rorchinik.bsky.social
September 16, 2026 at 8:44 PM
🚨New WP: Protecting users from AI persuasion🚨
🔸A 1-paragraph AI literacy treatment (explaining AIs can be told to pursue non-accuracy goals/to persuade) cuts AI dialogue political persuasion by ~half!
🔸No sig effect on general genAI trust
arxiv.org/abs/2609.16432
w/ @rorchinik.bsky.social
🔸A 1-paragraph AI literacy treatment (explaining AIs can be told to pursue non-accuracy goals/to persuade) cuts AI dialogue political persuasion by ~half!
🔸No sig effect on general genAI trust
arxiv.org/abs/2609.16432
w/ @rorchinik.bsky.social
by Ryan Calo Reposted by Greg Linden
My computer and information science colleagues and I on supposed existential risks of AI. www.washington.edu/news/2026/09...
Q&A: UW researchers respond to recent concerns over AI risk | UW News
Recent news about AI safety is fueling a new wave of political and societal fear. Five UW AI researchers discuss the real risks of AI and what to do about them.
www.washington.edu
September 16, 2026 at 9:40 PM
My computer and information science colleagues and I on supposed existential risks of AI. www.washington.edu/news/2026/09...
by Naomi Klein Reposted by Devon Greyson
On Democracy Now!, I floated a new theory: AI companies really have unleashed a killer monster that has slipped their control. But plot twist - the monster is human. And it's the President of the United States.
@astra.bsky.social
@democracynow.org
@astra.bsky.social
@democracynow.org
September 16, 2026 at 4:06 PM
On Democracy Now!, I floated a new theory: AI companies really have unleashed a killer monster that has slipped their control. But plot twist - the monster is human. And it's the President of the United States.
@astra.bsky.social
@democracynow.org
@astra.bsky.social
@democracynow.org
Surprised that economists seem generally so quiet about the rapidly escalating debate around AI safety; and (relatedly) growing evidence of political backlash, the contours of which seem highly unpredictable
September 17, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Surprised that economists seem generally so quiet about the rapidly escalating debate around AI safety; and (relatedly) growing evidence of political backlash, the contours of which seem highly unpredictable
Reposted by Steven H. Seggie, Scott A. Imberman
One of the key problems with AI is that the AI bros and their behemoth companies have absolutely no governance or guardrails. It's not that the AI is conscious or going rogue or whatever. It's that it's run by feckless arseholes. www.ft.com/content/2c34...
September 17, 2026 at 9:24 AM
One of the key problems with AI is that the AI bros and their behemoth companies have absolutely no governance or guardrails. It's not that the AI is conscious or going rogue or whatever. It's that it's run by feckless arseholes. www.ft.com/content/2c34...
by Juan Moreno‐Cruz Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol
“The greatest danger is not that humans will not be needed, but that we create an environment where humans don’t need each other.”
"Totalitarian movements are mass organizations of atomized, isolated individuals." Hannah Arendt
If AI wreaks havoc, however unlikely, it will be through this channel.
"Totalitarian movements are mass organizations of atomized, isolated individuals." Hannah Arendt
If AI wreaks havoc, however unlikely, it will be through this channel.
September 17, 2026 at 10:50 AM
“The greatest danger is not that humans will not be needed, but that we create an environment where humans don’t need each other.”
"Totalitarian movements are mass organizations of atomized, isolated individuals." Hannah Arendt
If AI wreaks havoc, however unlikely, it will be through this channel.
"Totalitarian movements are mass organizations of atomized, isolated individuals." Hannah Arendt
If AI wreaks havoc, however unlikely, it will be through this channel.
Big Tech cannot regulate themselves.
Working people should not have to live in fear for our jobs and lives because of AI. We need a voice at the table to decide how AI is used and guardrails to protect our jobs and rights, so we have a secure future that works for all of us.
Working people should not have to live in fear for our jobs and lives because of AI. We need a voice at the table to decide how AI is used and guardrails to protect our jobs and rights, so we have a secure future that works for all of us.
September 17, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Big Tech cannot regulate themselves.
Working people should not have to live in fear for our jobs and lives because of AI. We need a voice at the table to decide how AI is used and guardrails to protect our jobs and rights, so we have a secure future that works for all of us.
Working people should not have to live in fear for our jobs and lives because of AI. We need a voice at the table to decide how AI is used and guardrails to protect our jobs and rights, so we have a secure future that works for all of us.
by Max Nathan
It’s really striking that the policy mix here is all about mitigating AI impacts, rather than shaping AI adoption.
For example, there is zero engagement with the pro-worker AI ideas developed by Autor, Acemoglu and Johnson.
www.brookings.edu/articles/bui...
For example, there is zero engagement with the pro-worker AI ideas developed by Autor, Acemoglu and Johnson.
www.brookings.edu/articles/bui...
Building pro-worker AI | Brookings
Daron Acemoglu, David Autor, and Simon Johnson ask: What is pro-worker AI, and how can we build it?
www.brookings.edu
September 17, 2026 at 11:41 AM
It’s really striking that the policy mix here is all about mitigating AI impacts, rather than shaping AI adoption.
For example, there is zero engagement with the pro-worker AI ideas developed by Autor, Acemoglu and Johnson.
www.brookings.edu/articles/bui...
For example, there is zero engagement with the pro-worker AI ideas developed by Autor, Acemoglu and Johnson.
www.brookings.edu/articles/bui...
by Elizabeth Warren Reposted by Rebecca Solnit
Today, I'm calling to immediately press pause on the development of advanced AI while lawmakers and regulators put systems in place to keep people safe.
September 16, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Today, I'm calling to immediately press pause on the development of advanced AI while lawmakers and regulators put systems in place to keep people safe.
Reposted by Shannon Vallor
It seems like the AI discourse has started to actually scare people this past week (at least five people have told me 'AI will kill us', so well done PR folks.)
I think this is a very good piece to share w/ your family & friends. Thanks @shannonvallor.bsky.social
www.noemamag.com/the-danger-o...
I think this is a very good piece to share w/ your family & friends. Thanks @shannonvallor.bsky.social
www.noemamag.com/the-danger-o...
The Danger Of Superhuman AI Is Not What You Think | NOEMA
The rhetoric over “superhuman” AI implicitly erases what’s most important about being human.
www.noemamag.com
September 17, 2026 at 7:31 AM
It seems like the AI discourse has started to actually scare people this past week (at least five people have told me 'AI will kill us', so well done PR folks.)
I think this is a very good piece to share w/ your family & friends. Thanks @shannonvallor.bsky.social
www.noemamag.com/the-danger-o...
I think this is a very good piece to share w/ your family & friends. Thanks @shannonvallor.bsky.social
www.noemamag.com/the-danger-o...
by Jack Stilgoe
Not being snarky or nothing, but the US government has been building Frankensteins for decades, by incentivising irresponsible innovators.
‘If you’re building Frankenstein, stop’: JD Vance dismisses calls for AI regulation
US vice-president’s comments come as former Anthropic researcher revisits recent claim AI could destroy humanity
www.theguardian.com
September 17, 2026 at 7:22 AM
Not being snarky or nothing, but the US government has been building Frankensteins for decades, by incentivising irresponsible innovators.
by Neil Selwyn
Just finished checking the proofs for this new book (which should be out around Easter 2027 I think).
I was *very* reticent about writing a book on AI (given how much noise there has been over the past few years), but this has turned out really well I think.
Other ways of doing AI are possible!
I was *very* reticent about writing a book on AI (given how much noise there has been over the past few years), but this has turned out really well I think.
Other ways of doing AI are possible!
September 17, 2026 at 4:03 AM
Just finished checking the proofs for this new book (which should be out around Easter 2027 I think).
I was *very* reticent about writing a book on AI (given how much noise there has been over the past few years), but this has turned out really well I think.
Other ways of doing AI are possible!
I was *very* reticent about writing a book on AI (given how much noise there has been over the past few years), but this has turned out really well I think.
Other ways of doing AI are possible!
Here is an example of how AI cannot be used to determine cause and effect.
Suppose you want to know the impact of CO2 on climate. With a physics model, you run two simulations, one with the current atmosphere and a second with the current atmosphere but without CO2.
Suppose you want to know the impact of CO2 on climate. With a physics model, you run two simulations, one with the current atmosphere and a second with the current atmosphere but without CO2.
September 17, 2026 at 6:54 AM
Here is an example of how AI cannot be used to determine cause and effect.
Suppose you want to know the impact of CO2 on climate. With a physics model, you run two simulations, one with the current atmosphere and a second with the current atmosphere but without CO2.
Suppose you want to know the impact of CO2 on climate. With a physics model, you run two simulations, one with the current atmosphere and a second with the current atmosphere but without CO2.
As warnings mount, Democrats eyeing the presidency wake up to AI fears www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
As warnings mount, Democrats eyeing the presidency wake up to AI fears
Their plans are heavier on rhetoric than specifics so far. But it’s a shift for many in the party who have been slow to address the fast-changing technology.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 17, 2026 at 10:26 AM
As warnings mount, Democrats eyeing the presidency wake up to AI fears www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Shawn Graham
I’ll agree AI is great for math or coding or whatever if you’ll agree to confiscatory top marginal taxes, a permanent fossil fuel extraction ban, and the principle: no one should go hungry any more.
September 17, 2026 at 12:47 PM
I’ll agree AI is great for math or coding or whatever if you’ll agree to confiscatory top marginal taxes, a permanent fossil fuel extraction ban, and the principle: no one should go hungry any more.
by Jack Stilgoe
Brilliant piece. But AI Safety not really ‘fringe’. It’s in the mainstream of a group who happened to become wildly powerful. This paper is useful firstmonday.org/ojs/index.ph...
Field-building and the epistemic culture of AI safety
| First Monday
firstmonday.org
September 17, 2026 at 6:07 AM
Brilliant piece. But AI Safety not really ‘fringe’. It’s in the mainstream of a group who happened to become wildly powerful. This paper is useful firstmonday.org/ojs/index.ph...
by Janet Murray
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A welcome critique of Anyhropic’s mad fantasy of a conscious AI with its own values and emotions.
A welcome critique of Anyhropic’s mad fantasy of a conscious AI with its own values and emotions.
Microsoft says AI rival Anthropic could have 'disastrous impact' on humanity
Mustafa Suleyman says he believes the AI giant is in effect teaching Claude it "may be conscious".
www.bbc.com
September 17, 2026 at 2:16 AM
www.bbc.com/news/article...
A welcome critique of Anyhropic’s mad fantasy of a conscious AI with its own values and emotions.
A welcome critique of Anyhropic’s mad fantasy of a conscious AI with its own values and emotions.
Reposted by Alan McNally
Listening to a podcast yesterday where one of the positive takeaways about AI is that “maybe with AI we could learn how to stop the next pandemic”
and….
The answer is masks and social distancing and mRNA vaccines. You don’t need AI to tell you that, you just need people to empathize
and….
The answer is masks and social distancing and mRNA vaccines. You don’t need AI to tell you that, you just need people to empathize
September 17, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Listening to a podcast yesterday where one of the positive takeaways about AI is that “maybe with AI we could learn how to stop the next pandemic”
and….
The answer is masks and social distancing and mRNA vaccines. You don’t need AI to tell you that, you just need people to empathize
and….
The answer is masks and social distancing and mRNA vaccines. You don’t need AI to tell you that, you just need people to empathize