The U.S.-China summit has come and gone, and artificial intelligence was a key topic of discussion.
asserted
intelligence → come → discussion
There were reportedly no major breakthroughs, but diplomacy takes time.
uncertain
diplomacy → be → time
It also takes willpower and commitment, especially with complicated, critically important topics such as highly advanced AI.
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It → take → AI
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet in-person two more times before the end of the year.
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Trump → expect → year
They have an opportunity in the coming months to broker the greatest diplomatic deal of our lifetime.
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They → have → lifetime
But things have changed.
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things → change → ?
It has quickly become the most important topic of our era, and there is a groundswell of support for our leaders to make wise, urgent decisions.
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leaders → become → decisions
It is time for the United States and China to set aside their differences on this topic and come to an agreement for the benefit of all humanity.
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States → set → humanity
Ronald Reagan provides a powerful precedent that should inspire Trump.
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that → provide → Trump
Reagan was an anti-communist hawk who became the most celebrated hero of the conservative movement because his bold leadership ended the Cold War on terms that were good for all of humanity.
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that → become → humanity
Both President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev realized the severe gravity of the situation and negotiated to reduce their nuclear arsenals significantly and decrease the risk of global destruction.
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Reagan → realize → destruction
This soon led to the end of the Cold War and brought on a new era of increased peace, prosperity, and stability.
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This → lead → peace
Highly advanced AI has just as much potential for mass destruction as nuclear weapons did in the 1980s, if not more.
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weapons → have → 1980s
The most advanced computer scientists in the world can’t control it, as evidenced by the known rogue AI incidents that are becoming too common.
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that → control → incidents
The risks posed by this rogue behavior increase as the technology rapidly becomes even more powerful.
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technology → pose → behavior
Leading researchers often project at least a 10% chance that highly advanced AI could kill all human beings.
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AI → lead → beings
AI experts seriously worry about existential risks and catastrophic scenarios.
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experts → worry → risks
Reagan addressed the existential threat of his era.
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Reagan → address → era
He believed passionately in the power of both strength and diplomacy to solve problems.
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He → believe → problems
Reagan bolstered U.S. military and defense spending while simultaneously prioritizing diplomacy to negotiate for peace.
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Reagan → bolster → peace
Decades later, we forget the frightening realities of the Cold War era.
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we → forget → era
People truly worried about nuclear war, and there was a very real risk of it.
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People → worry → it
Today, Americans are increasingly worried about advanced AI’s impact on humanity.
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Americans → worry → humanity
Three-quarters of U.S. adults believe that Silicon Valley isn’t doing enough to prevent an AI disaster, and Trump himself has called AI “maybe the most dangerous thing out there.”
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Trump → believe → AI
Trump has an opportunity to achieve a legacy on par with Reagan’s, but he must act as soon as possible and work with Xi to limit the most catastrophically risky forms of AI globally before it is too late.
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it → have → AI
An international agreement could give humans enough time to make sure we harness this powerful technology in highly beneficial ways and avoid mass destruction.
uncertain
we → give → destruction
Recent rogue AI incidents have provided a vivid warning: we don’t yet know how to control the machines reliably.
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we → provide → machines
Reagan and Gorbachev share a tremendous legacy because of their transcendent leadership.
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Reagan → share → leadership
Very few leaders get an opportunity of this scale to make such a large and lasting impact for all of humanity, but Trump and Xi have the opportunity to do so.
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Trump → get → opportunity
They have the potential to be the Reagan and Gorbachev of this era — and truly save the world.
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They → have → world
Doing so should surely merit them both a Nobel Peace Prize.
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Doing → do → Prize
Lauren Daugherty is CEO of American Shield, which helps Americans better understand the risks of artificial intelligence.
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Americans → help → intelligence
The Aporia
