E137: AI Safety vs Speed: Helen Toner Discusses OpenAI Board Experience, Regulatory Approaches, and Military AI [The Cognitive Revolution]

This week on Upstream, we’re releasing an episode of The Cognitive Revolution. Nathan Labenz interviews Helen Toner, director at CSET, about her experiences with OpenAI, the concept of adaptation buffers for AI integration, and AI's role in military decision-making. They discuss the implications of AI development, the need for regulatory policies, and the geopolitical dynamics involving AI competition with China.

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️ ‪The Cognitive Revolution

The Cognitive Revolution is a podcast about AI where hosts Nathan Labenz and Erik Torenberg interview the builders on the edge of AI and explore the dramatic shift it will unlock over the next decades. 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yHyok3M3BjqzR0VB5MSyk?si=7357ec31ac424043&nd=1&dlsi=060a53f1d7be47ad  

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cognitive-revolution-ai-builders-researchers-and/id1669813431 

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LINKS:

Helen Toner's appearance on the TED AI show: https://www.ted.com/talks/the_ted_ai_show_what_really_went_down_at_openai_and_the_future_of_regulation_w_helen_toner 

Helen Toner's substack : https://helentoner.substack.com/ 

Additional recommended reads:

https://helentoner.substack.com/p/nonproliferation-is-the-wrong-approach 

https://cset.georgetown.edu/publication/ai-for-military-decision-making/

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/ai-regulation-s-champions-can-seize-common-ground-or-be-swept-aside 

https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2024/05/26/ai-firms-mustnt-govern-themselves-say-ex-members-of-openais-board

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X / TWITTER:

@hlntnr

@labenz

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Helen Toner joined OpenAI's board in 2021, bringing AI policy expertise when AGI discussions were still uncommon.
• She confirms that rumors about QStar contributing to the board'