Timnit Gebru (she/her).
Its like a coordinated DDOS PR attack from these existential risk people and they're succeeding in making me constantly talk about them.
May 30, 2023 at 8:05pmWeb
Show threadSasha Costanza-ChockMay 30, 2023

@timnitGebru maybe we should start a catchy label abbreviation to change the frame?

They are x-risk, we are

A-risk (actual risk?)
R-squared (real risk?)
R-harm (real harms?)
X-harms (eXisting harms?)

Show threadTimnit Gebru (she/her).May 30, 2023
@schock I love this.
Show threadSasha Costanza-ChockMay 30, 2023
@timnitGebru which one should we try? Or another snappy term that's better
Show threadSasha Costanza-ChockMay 30, 2023
@timnitGebru x-harm? As in eXisting harm?
Show threadSasha Costanza-ChockMay 30, 2023
@timnitGebru Reducing x-harm (actually eXisting harms) is a more powerful, ethical, and in the long run, effective approach than speculation about so-called x-risk.
Show threadTimnit Gebru (she/her).Jun 1, 2023
@schock I’m a fan of all of them really.
Show threadGilberto FicaraJun 1, 2023

@schock @timnitGebru problem with long-termist crazyhats is that they don't actually believe in reducing x-harm

How do we fight that?
Or we don't engage them at all?

Show threadSasha Costanza-ChockJun 1, 2023
@zompetto @timnitGebru i think we just focus on developing a stronger alternate narrative
Show threadmelanie ensign (she/her)Jun 2, 2023

@schock @zompetto @timnitGebru I love the thought behind the creative terminology. I do worry it’s too complicated for media & other potential messengers. The suggestion to developer a stronger counter narrative is smart.

The reality is existential threats are being used as a distraction so people don’t pay attention to the harms happening right now. The individuals behind this movement are hoping to neutralize oversight by the public & regulators with fear of the boogeyman. Fight, flight, or freeze — just don’t look at the man behind the curtain.

Show threadNomiJun 2, 2023
@schock @timnitGebru
X-harms are more urgent than F-risks (future), since those are risks which may or may not even come to pass.
Show threadCorbinMay 30, 2023
@schock @timnitGebru "harm" is a great word to bring to the table. Maybe "E-harm" would work, talking about empirical/extant/evidenced harms which -- unlike all-or-nothing black-swan apocalyptic contemplations -- actually do obey the basic rules of probability. This would be something that we could then take back to the workplace and use in discussions of service reliability and quality.
Show threadGuy EmersonMay 31, 2023
@schock @timnitGebru How about "y-risk". Like, why-the-fuck-are-you-building-this risk.
Show threadAndrew HundtJun 1, 2023
@schock @timnitGebru a-harms actual/addressing/anti-harms
Show threadAndrew HundtJun 1, 2023

@schock @timnitGebru or flip the script justice-[TBD].

Which I guess is the AJL’s approach?

Show threadmempkoMay 30, 2023
@timnitGebru It is PR. I think it's an attempt at regulatory capture. Scare the public so that the government creates regulations that make it prohibitively expensive for others to compete (there is no moat, the math is not that hard). I mean, why would Sam Altman, a known prepper, who has a stash of guns, food, and land, backed by a monopolist like Microsoft, ask the government for regulations? The PR stunt is working too, people are freaking out.
Show threadmempkoMay 30, 2023
@timnitGebru I do believe there are risks to the technology, but not because of the nature of the technology, but who is building it, trying to control it, and how they are using it. The risk to me are a few, deeply flawed (and biased) but widely used models controlled by a cartel. I've had a conversation about global warming with ChatGPT and it's amazing how much it tries to bring in a 'balanced' view by introducing denial arguments for example. Miss-information at scale!
Show threadEamonnMRMay 30, 2023
@timnitGebru I just can't get over the fact that that the loudest doomsayers are the ones making the decision to take the risk. Like they have zero responsibility for the things they choose to work on, it's some inevitable force of nature that they just happen to be the vessel for.