ControlAI's Connor Leahy Argues Superintelligence Is an Adversary, Not a Tool, and Should Be Banned Outright
On TechCrunch's Equity podcast, Connor Leahy, now U.S. Executive Director of the nonprofit ControlAI, argues that superintelligent AI should be framed as an adversary rather than a weapon and that companies should be prevented from building it at all. He contends that alignment and containment alone are insufficient given recent safety incidents, and notes that a wave of new legislation is making this once-fringe position mainstream.
Skynet Chance (-0.04%): Advocacy that is reportedly translating into new legislation to halt superintelligence development would, if effective, reduce the probability of an uncontrollable system being built. However, the piece also highlights ongoing safety incidents and the industry's treatment of superintelligence as inevitable, partially offsetting the risk reduction.
Skynet Date (+0 days): Momentum behind restrictive legislation and prominent advocacy for stopping superintelligence development would tend to slow the pace toward dangerous frontier systems.
AGI Progress (0%): The interview presents no new capability results, models, or technical advances, so it does not itself move progress toward AGI.
AGI Date (+0 days): Growing legislative backing for prohibitions on superintelligence development could introduce regulatory friction that modestly delays frontier AGI-directed research.
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