The AI Pause Dilemma: Can US and China Really Agree?

This week in 60 seconds: the AI pause debate gets a twist. A potential AI pause deal between the US and China sounds neat on paper, but is it actually viable?.

The US-China AI Pause: What's the Deal?

Imagine two tech giants, the US and China, deciding to hit the brakes on AI development. The goal? To prevent AI from spiraling out of control. But here's the catch: what's the measure of success? If both countries sign on, how do they ensure they're meeting the agreed-upon standards? Who decides if those standards are met?

Suppose the US thinks the box is checked, but China doesn't? It's a recipe for a diplomatic headache. And if either side drags its feet, the whole pause idea could crumble.

Capital Controls and Brain Drain

Next question: will this deal mean putting up walls around investments? If US investors are barred from funding AI outside the US and China, we could see capital controls typically used by more, let's say, authoritarian regimes.

And what about the talent? Are we seriously considering restricting the movement of AI researchers? Revoking passports or other extreme measures to keep them from packing their bags and heading to more welcoming shores? The mere suggestion feels like a slippery slope toward practices we usually criticize in autocracies.

Global Collaboration: Pipe Dream or Possibility?

Here's the one thing to remember from this week: a US-China pause can't be the end game. Does this mean every country with the capability to host large data centers needs to be on board? It sure sounds like it.

But rallying every nation with a stake in AI, not just the big players, is a monumental task. Can we really expect countries like France, Japan, or even smaller entities to agree? Maybe not. But without broad cooperation, any bilateral deal risks being a band-aid on a bullet wound.

So, readers, the real question is: are we barking up the wrong tree? Instead of trying to pause progress, perhaps the focus should be on setting global standards and governance structures that ensure AI safety and accountability.

That's the week. See you Monday.