2) It really depends on what form of alliance this takes. It could be implicit: fundraising for artists’ lawsuits for example, without any major change to public messaging. I don’t think this would dilute the focus on existential risk. When Baptists allied with Bootleggers in the prohibition era, this did not dilute their focus away from Christianity! I also think that there are indeed common interests here: restrictions on GAI models. (https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/q8jxedwSKBdWA3nH7/we-are-not-alone-many-communities-want-to-stop-big-tech-from).
That being said, if PauseAI did try to become a broad ‘AI protest group’, including via its messaging, this would dilute the focus on x-risk. Though, mixture of near-term and long-term messaging may more effective in reaching a broader audience. As mentioned in another comment, identifying concrete examples of harms to specific people/groups is important part of ‘injustice frames’. (I am more unsure about this, though.)
3) I am also hesitant about more disruptive research tactics, in particular because of allies within firms. But, I don’t think that disruptive protests necessarily have to turn the public against us… no more than blocking ships made GMO protestors unpopular. Efficacy of disruptive tactics are quite issue-dependent… I think it would be useful if someone did a thorough lit review of disruptive protests.
Hi Chris, thank you for this.
1) Nice! Agreed
2) It really depends on what form of alliance this takes. It could be implicit: fundraising for artists’ lawsuits for example, without any major change to public messaging. I don’t think this would dilute the focus on existential risk. When Baptists allied with Bootleggers in the prohibition era, this did not dilute their focus away from Christianity! I also think that there are indeed common interests here: restrictions on GAI models. (https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/q8jxedwSKBdWA3nH7/we-are-not-alone-many-communities-want-to-stop-big-tech-from).
That being said, if PauseAI did try to become a broad ‘AI protest group’, including via its messaging, this would dilute the focus on x-risk. Though, mixture of near-term and long-term messaging may more effective in reaching a broader audience. As mentioned in another comment, identifying concrete examples of harms to specific people/groups is important part of ‘injustice frames’. (I am more unsure about this, though.)
3) I am also hesitant about more disruptive research tactics, in particular because of allies within firms. But, I don’t think that disruptive protests necessarily have to turn the public against us… no more than blocking ships made GMO protestors unpopular. Efficacy of disruptive tactics are quite issue-dependent… I think it would be useful if someone did a thorough lit review of disruptive protests.