Toby Ord and Tom Davidson Debate R&D Spending Curves in Intelligence Explosion Models

Oxford researcher Toby Ord and Tom Davidson debated on X whether R&D spending must grow unbounded as effective cognitive input approaches infinity in intelligence explosion models. Ord outlined three possibilities and suggested monitoring the curve as an early signal, while Davidson argued the outcome hinges on how "R&D spending" is operational defined.

2026-11-10 ~ 2026-11-10 · 4 related posts

• Tom Davidson: the spend curve's fate hinges on how you define research spend — TomDavidsonX · 2026-11-10
• Toby Ord on the intelligence explosion curve: three ways the infinity problem resolves — tobyordoxford · 2026-11-10
• Toby Ord and Tom Davidson debate whether the AI research-spend curve breaks — tobyordoxford · 2026-11-10
• Toby Ord: monitoring the research-spend curve could signal an AI explosion — tobyordoxford · 2026-11-10