National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warns the next few years will determine whether AI leads to catastrophe

“Jake Sullivan — with three days left as White House national security adviser, with wide access to the world’s secrets — called us to deliver a chilling, “catastrophic” warning for America and the incoming administration:

* The next few years will determine whether artificial intelligence leads to catastrophe — and whether China or America prevails in the AI arms race.

**Why it matters:** Sullivan said in our phone interview that unlike previous dramatic technology advancements (atomic weapons, space, the internet), AI development sits outside of government and security clearances, and in the hands of private companies with the power of nation-states.

* Underscoring the gravity of his message, Sullivan spoke with an urgency and directness that were rarely heard during his decade-plus in public life.

**Somehow, government** will have to join forces with these companies to nurture and protect America’s early AI edge, and shape the global rules for using potentially God-like powers, he says.

* To distill Sullivan: America must quickly perfect a technology that many believe will be smarter and more capable than humans. We need to do this without decimating U.S. jobs, and inadvertently unleashing something with capabilities we didn’t anticipate or prepare for. We need to both beat China on the technology *and* in shaping and setting global usage and monitoring of it, so bad actors don’t use it catastrophically. Oh, and it can only be done with unprecedented government-private sector collaboration — and probably difficult, but vital, cooperation with China.”

I don’t think it will be as bad as people say, more a serious scar of society’s progression. Inevitably, people will become more violent and unstable and the prime targets will be the wealthy benefiting from AI. People are unhappy with the corruption as it is, but people remain obedient out of fear of losing the little comfort and stability they have. Take away the comfort and stability, like having no jobs available, is a great way to give yourself and your rich friends a death warrant by a lot of exhausted people that are suicidal but find committing suicide irrational when you can just do a mass shooting and die in a position of satisfactory power for once in your whole insignificant life… only difference is majority of people don’t find it satisfactory shooting up innocents. 

Sincerely, government will have to step in and throw people a bone. They won’t right away but they will. This will be a huge blow on our cold War efforts too, having an unstable and rowdy population with no real economy. Surely they will allow their friends first to get a lick, then the regulations roll in. It won’t be politicians that start, it will be the entity responsible maintaining national defense. 

I just don’t see this dystopia people speak of happening. Life will definitely be shittier and the American dream will be dead for all higher middle class individuals will be grand fathered in if worthy to wealth while everyone else becomes poverty rodents, but it will resemble more like a communist nation with soft fascist ideals. Majority makes the same and gets identical housing, you are either born with wealthy ancestors or you aren’t. 

Of course, they totally will try to push joining the military or government security branches as a way out of the poverty class. 

If they put some AI in the white house, it’ll probably be the only intelligence in the white house

Thanks for the confirmation that it absolutely will. I trust exactly zero of the people that will be in charge the next few years to not fuck it up.

Just watched I robot again. That said few years being 2035.