Regulating AGI without a crisp definition: a false-positive tradeoff argument

davidmanheim · x · 2026-09-16

David Manheim debates whether AGI's ill-defined nature blocks regulation. Critics argue regulation needs measurable targets, citing radioactive-material and drug controls. Manheim counters that a blurry boundary isn't fatal: rules can trade higher false positives for low-enough false negatives. He adds that existing systems clearly fall outside AGI under such definitions, and the hard part—future edge cases—is also what matters most.

Related event: Manheim: Define Before Measuring — AGI Debate Will Resolve Itself Within Years(7 posts)→

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