The Commerce Department is considering national security restrictions on AI
I understand why they want to—even to the point of thinking it would be the right move if only it would actually work—but it won't work.<p>True, software is dual use[0] but it's too slippery. Even things like nuclear weapons designs[1] are getting pretty easy for people to get their hands on. This stuff is just text! How are you going to stop this from spreading? It won't work.<p>Besides, top-shelf AI tech isn't much better than mid-shelf stuff. For example, self-driving car technology. We're talking about the difference of 1000kms with no intervention by a human driver vs 5000kms. A terrorist weaponizing self-driving tech for, say, a mobile weapons platform (AKs connected to remote triggers, say) doesn't need the top shelf stuff. They need an auto that can go maybe 10kms.<p>Thing is, unlike most people I talk to in tech, I actually support the majority of the objectives intelligence agencies in the west have. I just don't know how you solve this one. We need free speech to be a liberal democracy but information itself is becoming dangerous. How do you square that?<p>Further, if the power of individuals keeps going up due to technological advancement how do you maintain security and freedom at the same time? The only way I can see it working is for individuals to continue to get more peaceful.<p>[0] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-use_technology" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-use_technology</a><p>[1] Thank goodness weapons grade fissile material is hard to make.