I’m concerned about the optics of the request. A local ban on AI development sounds implausible, and I think it’s important for AI safety advocates to present to the public as grounded and realistic right now.
This applies doubly in SF since the city is such a partisan bogeyman. “SF elites trying to set the rules on AI for the rest of us” vs the White House’s full-throated pro-AI stance seems tailor-made for polarization.
I think AI 2027/2040 have a naming issue. A typical normie (who is ambivalent about AI) reads “AI 2040”, subconsciously categorizes it as cryptic marketing/tech-bro babble/eschatology, and dismisses it.
We should have a message that appeals to ordinary people. “Everyone loses the AI race,” “put the AI companies on a leash,” “we can stop the tech bros,” etc. I’m sure someone more talented can come up with something much better.