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AI Discovers DC

There is something strikingly familiar about the sudden enthusiasm of leading artificial intelligence companies for government oversight. The technology may be revolutionary, but the political economy surrounding it is not.

For more than a century, a pattern has recurred: an industry emerges with vigorous competition and rapid innovation. Successful firms establish advantages in capital, expertise, distribution, or market share, and then…some of those incumbents subsequently discover the virtues of regulation.

AI and the ‘Dangers of Electric Lighting’
Thomas Edison warned that alternating current was an unacceptable threat.

Letting Big AI Write the Rules

It seems inevitable that the artificial intelligence frontrunners will get the regulation they desire. That being essentially a fait accompli - unfortunately - the next important question is who will actually write and enforce the rules.

David Lilienfeld comments:

Speculation, but rates have been moving up. Hence, raising capital is more expensive. If they stir up enough concern about safety and everyone has to slow down, they can slow down on their spend and hope to raise money when rates are lower and capital costs less. Seems pretty rational to me.

Back in the 1900-1910 period, the embryonic pharmaceutical industry had to deal with a bunch of epidemics of tetanus and the like because of a lack of care in handling the products. The public stopped buying the products and the industry screamed for some government intervention to regulate the industry with the hope the public would regain its trust. It didn't happen overnight, but eventually, the public did regain that trust and there's been regulation of the industry ever since. Companies like people often act rationally. Sometimes they don't, but often they do.


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