Opinion: Pacing the Frontier Means Meeting Safety Bars, Not Fixed Pauses
hlntnr · x · 2026-08-19
The author endorses a new approach to 'pacing the frontier': it should not be viewed as a fixed amount of time (e.g., 'six-month pause' or 'go 10% slower'), but simply ensuring that enough time is taken to meet a reasonable safety/assurance bar. OpenAI's decision to pause Astra training is interpreted as a response to various incentives, including external commercial pressure, internal business needs, PR concerns, investor liability, and policy requirements. If all parties adhere to this standard, the frontier is effectively paced.
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