AI safety researcher likens Altman's 'AI just exposes vulnerabilities' line to Big Tobacco
DavidSKrueger · x · 2026-11-04
Cambridge AI safety professor David Krueger cites Big Tobacco's history to argue Sam Altman's claim that AI 'isn't creating the problem, just uncovering accumulated vulnerabilities' is obvious self-interested spin. The thread recalls how in the 1950s tobacco companies paid scientists—including Ronald Fisher, who hid his funding—to push a genetic-predisposition theory of smoking-related cancer, which collapsed because quitting lowered risk. Even after the 1964 Surgeon General ruling, the industry 'sold doubt' for decades as the 'Merchants of Doubt'.
More from AGI Musings
- Reminder: You're legally liable for your AI agents' actions — 'whoops' won't hold up in court — var_epsilon · 2026-11-04
- "Agent" is a legal term: the disclosed principal is liable for its consequences — HanchungLee · 2026-11-04
- Chart argues neural networks will take over most cognitive work by 2050-2070 — MartinGTobias · 2026-11-04
- The most underrated use of AI: capturing tacit knowledge before its owners die — r0ck3t23 · 2026-11-04
- One week in AI: RSI goes mainstream, Anthropic IPO filing touts model-built-model loop — DavidSKrueger · 2026-11-04
- David Krueger: time for a literature review of AI pause proposals — DavidSKrueger · 2026-11-04