Whilst I agree with the overall suggestion that global coordinated effort is really required. I disagree with the extent to which local efforts are portrayed as being pointless.
For the following reasons:
Anything that slows down progress is likely beneficial if you believe that longer development time to ASI will likely lead to a more favourable outcome. If the Google AI lab was shut down, we might (in timelines where Google was winning the race) gain months more time to enact global legislation or make breakthroughs in alignment
Cumulative local efforts can add up to something more meaningful
Local efforts make it easier for other parties to take the same path. They increase the mindshare of the viewpoint amongst other actors. Before long you might have a collection of similarly inclined states/countries which could push for more global agreements
My view is that local efforts should also be encouraged so long as they aren’t pursued at the expense of more global agreements
Whilst I agree with the overall suggestion that global coordinated effort is really required. I disagree with the extent to which local efforts are portrayed as being pointless.
For the following reasons:
Anything that slows down progress is likely beneficial if you believe that longer development time to ASI will likely lead to a more favourable outcome. If the Google AI lab was shut down, we might (in timelines where Google was winning the race) gain months more time to enact global legislation or make breakthroughs in alignment
Cumulative local efforts can add up to something more meaningful
Local efforts make it easier for other parties to take the same path. They increase the mindshare of the viewpoint amongst other actors. Before long you might have a collection of similarly inclined states/countries which could push for more global agreements
My view is that local efforts should also be encouraged so long as they aren’t pursued at the expense of more global agreements