MIRI Newsletter #123

If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies

  • As we announced last month, Eliezer and Nate have a book coming out this September: If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies. This is MIRI’s major attempt to warn the policy world and the general public about AI. Preorders are live now, and are exceptionally helpful.
  • Preorder Bonus: We’re hosting two exclusive virtual events for those who preorder the book! The first is a chat between Nate Soares and Tim Urban (Wait But Why) followed by a Q&A, on August 10 @ noon PT. The second is a Q&A with both Nate and Eliezer in September (date and time TBD). For details, and to obtain access, head to ifanyonebuildsit.com/events.
  • If you have graphic design chops, you can give us a hand by joining the advertisement design competition for the book.
  • As Malo recently announced, advance copies of the book have been getting an incredible reception, with blurbs from:
    • computer security guru Bruce Schneier;
    • Suzanne Spaulding, former head of the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the US government’s main agency for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure security;
    • Jack Shanahan, a retired three-star general and the inaugural director of the Pentagon’s Joint AI Center, the coordinating hub for bringing AI to every branch of the US military;
    • Jon Wolfsthal, the Obama administration’s senior nuclear security advisor;
    • legendary biologist George Church;
    • Nobel-winning economist Ben Bernanke;
      … and many others.
  • Nate has written a follow-up post arguing that the time is ripe to speak the truth about AI danger.

Other MIRI updates

Harlan Stewart and Rob Bensinger