It seems entirely possible that even with a 100 safety to 1 capabilities researcher ratio, 100 capabilities researchers could kill everyone before the 10k safety researchers came up with a plan that didnt kill everyone. It does not seem like a symmetric race.
Likewise, if the output of safety research is just “this is not safe to do” (as MIRI’s seems to be), capabilities will continue, or in fact they will do MORE capabilities work so they can upskill and “help” with the safety problem.
It seems entirely possible that even with a 100 safety to 1 capabilities researcher ratio, 100 capabilities researchers could kill everyone before the 10k safety researchers came up with a plan that didnt kill everyone. It does not seem like a symmetric race.
Likewise, if the output of safety research is just “this is not safe to do” (as MIRI’s seems to be), capabilities will continue, or in fact they will do MORE capabilities work so they can upskill and “help” with the safety problem.