Question 1

Who is Pause AI?

Accepted Answer

We are a community of volunteers and local communities coordinated by a non-profit that aims to mitigate the risks of AI, particularly the risk of human extinction. We aim to convince our governments to step in and pause the development of superhuman AI until it is provably safe.

Question 2

Aren’t you just scared of changes and new technology?

Accepted Answer

Most people in PauseAI consider themselves techno-optimists, were involved in AI development, and are gadget lovers. Notably, many of us have been excited about the potential of AI to help humanity. However, we all believe this cannot happen until this technology does not prove an existential risk.

Question 3

Do you want to ban all AI?

Accepted Answer

No, only the development of the largest general-purpose AI systems, often called “Frontier models”, more powerful than GPT-4. AI for specific uses has enormous benefits to public health, road safety, the internet, and many other domains; these models do not present a risk to humanity's existence.

Question 4

Isn't powerful AI inevitable?

Accepted Answer

Strong, general AI is not inevitable. It requires hordes of engineers with million-dollar paychecks. It requires a fully functional and unrestricted supply chain of the most complex hardware. It requires all of us to allow companies to gamble with our future for their own profit.

Question 5

Where does PauseAI's funding come from?

Accepted Answer

Virtually all of our actions so far have been done by volunteers. However, since February 2024, PauseAI is a registered non-profit foundation, and we have received multiple donations from individuals. We’ve also received 20k funding from the LightSpeed network.

Question 6

Why protest?

Accepted Answer

Protesting shows the world that we care deeply about this issue, and are willing to sacrifice to defend humanity from strong AI. Most people are supportive
of peaceful/non-violent protests. Simultaneously, we do not have unlimited time and must make the voices of humanity heard.

Question 7

How likely is it that superintelligent AI will cause very bad outcomes, like human extinction?

Accepted Answer

For AI researchers (not safety specialists), catastrophic outcomes are 16.2% likely on average. [https://arxiv.org/html/2401.02843v] While this number may seem small, would you board an airplane with a one-in-six chance of killing thousands of people?

Question 8

Aren't AI companies pushing the existential risk narrative to manipulate us?

Accepted Answer

Companies did not initially push AI risk - it was scientists, activists and NGOs going back decades. Now that many people are worried about AI's future, we believe companies are hinting at the truth, but in a way that doesn't compromise their own investments and funding.

PauseAI Global Protest - NYC

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