AGI Arms Race: Avoiding Mutual Assured AI Malfunction (MAIM)

A policy paper by Eric Schmidt, Alexandr Wang, and Dan Hendrycks warns against a "Manhattan Project" style push for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), arguing that a US-led race for superintelligent AI could provoke fierce retaliation from China, potentially destabilizing international relations. They introduce the concept of Mutual Assured AI Malfunction (MAIM) and suggest a defensive strategy prioritizing deterring other countries from creating threatening AI. This involves expanding cyberattack capabilities, limiting adversaries' access to advanced AI chips and open-source models, rather than focusing on "winning the race to superintelligence." This contrasts with recent proposals for government-backed AGI development and marks a shift in Schmidt's previously expressed views.