Chapter 13
Shut It Down
In light of the ideas from earlier chapters, we believe that the only real path forward is for humanity to globally ban advanced AI development for a long period of time. Chapter 13 of the book includes our answers to related questions, such as:
- Why does a ban on further AI development need to be global?
- Is humanity even capable of working together at the scale needed?
- What sorts of policies have been proposed so far?
- What sorts of policies have a chance of actually working?
Below, we talk about what a response like this could entail, respond to objections, and say more about why we don’t think there are other good options. We also expand a little on the question of what humanity could possibly do with whatever (ultimately finite) time we buy by stopping AI research and development for as long as we can.
The next chapter of the book, Chapter 14, won’t have its own online appendices, but will have some additional links that will take you to pages for doing something to help solve the problem. That final chapter will cover questions like:
- Is it too late? Or is it really possible for humanity to change its course?
- What can I do to help?