Pinker argues doomer extinction narratives starve real AI risks like cybersecurity
Dr_Atoosa · x · 2026-09-06
Weighing in on criticism around Cal Newport's piece, the author offers a charitable reading of Pinker's post: the classic doomer AI-extinction narrative — a singleton or family of superintelligent AIs wiping out humanity — has monopolized scarce attention that could have gone to concrete, nearer-term risks like cybersecurity and biosecurity. The author doesn't fully endorse Newport but says the EA and Yudkowskian rationalist communities did a disservice (alongside service) to AI governance and its discourse, something careful people should acknowledge.
Related event: AI doom narratives criticized for crowding out real security risks(2 posts)→
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