My model is that most of the people applying for those jobs are not interested in x risk reduction. So if I land one of those jobs, I’m one of a very few people in the world doing government ai policy with an eye towards x risk reduction. So you could say “AI policy with an eye towards x risk reduction” is neglected, but if I were to say “AI policy” is neglected that’s what I’d mean. And then, something something pr something something and I think you have why it’s not more clear.
It’s true that few civil servants are currently thinking about x-risks from AI.
If you believe artificial general intelligence won’t emerge for several decades, you might be happy that there will be hundreds of experts with decades worth of experience at that point, and not worry about doing it yourself.
AI policy is probably less neglected than you think it is.
There are more than 50 AI policy jobs in the UK government. When one’s advertised, it gets 50-100 applicants.
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada is really excited about funding AI policy research. http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/funding-financement/programs-programmes/fellowships/doctoral-doctorat-eng.aspx
AI policy is very important, but at this point it’s also very mainstream.
My model is that most of the people applying for those jobs are not interested in x risk reduction. So if I land one of those jobs, I’m one of a very few people in the world doing government ai policy with an eye towards x risk reduction. So you could say “AI policy with an eye towards x risk reduction” is neglected, but if I were to say “AI policy” is neglected that’s what I’d mean. And then, something something pr something something and I think you have why it’s not more clear.
It’s true that few civil servants are currently thinking about x-risks from AI.
If you believe artificial general intelligence won’t emerge for several decades, you might be happy that there will be hundreds of experts with decades worth of experience at that point, and not worry about doing it yourself.