Discuss actions society can take to minimize its existential risk (Chapter 7)
What this leaves out:
Chapter 2 - mostly a discussion of the moral arguments for x-riskās importance. Can assume that the audience will already care about x-risk at a less sophisticated level, and focus on making the case that x-risk is high and we sort of know what to do about it.
The discussion of joint probabilities of x-risks in Chapter 6 - too technical for a general audience
Another way to do it would be to do an episode on each type of risk and what can be done about it, for example:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Pandemic risk (timely because of COVID-19)
Part 3: Risks from asteroids, comets, volcanoes, and supernovas
Part 4: Climate change
Part 5: Artificial intelligence
and so on
Like the original book, Iād want the tone of the documentary to be authoritative and hopeful and not lean on fear.
Possible outline for a 2-3 part documentary adaptation of The Precipice:
Part 1: Introduction & Natural Risks
Introduce the idea that we are in a time of unprecedented existential risk, but that the future could be very good (Introduction and Chapter 1)
Discuss natural risks (Chapter 3)
Argue that man-made risks are greater and use this to lead to the next episode (Chapter 3)
Part 2: Human-Made Risks
Well-known anthropogenic risksānuclear war, climate change, other environmental damage (Chapter 4)
Emerging technological risksāpandemics, AI, dystopia (Chapter 5)
Existential risk and security factors (Chapter 6)
Part 3: What We Can Do
Discuss actions society can take to minimize its existential risk (Chapter 7)
What this leaves out:
Chapter 2 - mostly a discussion of the moral arguments for x-riskās importance. Can assume that the audience will already care about x-risk at a less sophisticated level, and focus on making the case that x-risk is high and we sort of know what to do about it.
The discussion of joint probabilities of x-risks in Chapter 6 - too technical for a general audience
Another way to do it would be to do an episode on each type of risk and what can be done about it, for example:
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Pandemic risk (timely because of COVID-19)
Part 3: Risks from asteroids, comets, volcanoes, and supernovas
Part 4: Climate change
Part 5: Artificial intelligence
and so on
Like the original book, Iād want the tone of the documentary to be authoritative and hopeful and not lean on fear.