“End Nuclear Insanity Before Nuclear Insanity Ends Humanity”
Aug 28, 2024
LLAW’s NUCLEAR ISSUES & COMMENTS, Wednesday, (08/28/2024)
It is not governmental abuse and interference (other than potential military control demands and practices) with AI that I fear; it is the use of AI by the greedy money-worshipping corporations who will use (and already have) AI in negative ways, especially Social Media, that will eventually use AI against free speech and freedom of choice by unabated one-sided control or humanitarian methods of consideration of their social beliefs, ambitions, and their so-called “Standards” that require their users to absolutely dictatorially obey without due consideration of any kind of human emotions such as empathy, tolerance, understanding, and weighing judicially the decisions that are made while using social media, unfortunately ignoring an emerging source of the possibility for a world of peace, cooperation and unification rather than our present world of war, hatred and division.
I am personally already feeling the intolerance and misunderstandings over an ongoing ‘absolute battle’ with Facebook’s AI that is accusing me of such such things as “SPAM, Cyber Security Violations, and other nefarious violations of Facebook’s “Community Standards”, (of course I have heard many horror stories from other users about being thrown in Facebook jail over the years) for the very humanitarian ‘all things nuclear’ information (all derived from the public media with, generally, one single evaluation of a single article each day).
My daily message carefully, sensibly, and honestly promotes the absolute danger and potential annihilation of human and other life on planet Earth. But AI’s Facebook police, evidently entirely unconsidered by human interpretation or review of my “All Things Nuclear” blog, with a daily roundup of the most important nuclear news posts, that appear on my Facebook page with two of the links to other platforms that are automatically posted to Substack, Email, Linked In, and, yes, X (formerly Twitter), and others waiting in the wings until I am able to include them. So far Facebook has deleted 9 of my previous 735 posts; but I have found ways to post them to Facebook anyway by different posting methods than Facebook uses. And, as AI expands, I have also had a lot of disturbing situations with Windows 10 updates from Microsoft that are totally controlled by AI. One of them is still unresolved after 3 years of trying . . . ~llaw (Read on; the following article is important to our future.)
California’s Draft AI Law Would Protect More than Just People
7 minute read
Ideas
August 27, 2024 4:19 PM EDT
Hendrycks is the director of the Center for AI Safety
Few places in the world have more to gain from a flourishing AI industry than California. Few also have more to lose if the public’s trust in the industry were suddenly shattered.
In May, the California Senate passed SB 1047, a piece of AI safety legislation, in a vote of 32 to one, helping ensure the safe development of large-scale AI systems through clear, predictable, common-sense safety standards. The bill is now slated for a state assembly vote this week and, if signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, would represent a significant step in protecting California citizens and the state’s burgeoning AI industry from malicious use.
Late Monday, Elon Musk shocked many by announcing his support for the bill in a post on X. “This is a tough call and will make some people upset, but, all things considered, I think California should probably pass the SB 1047 AI safety bill,” he wrote. “For over 20 years, I have been an advocate for AI regulation, just as we regulate any product/technology that is a potential risk to the public.”
The post came days after I spoke with Musk about SB 1047. Unlike other corporate leaders who often waver, consulting their PR teams and lawyers before taking a stance on safety legislation, Musk was different. After I outlined the importance of the bill, he requested to review its text to ensure its fairness and lack of potential for abuse. The next day he came out in support. This quick decision-making process is a testament to Musk’s long-standing advocacy for responsible AI regulation.
Last winter, Senator Scott Weiner, the bill’s creator, reached out to the Center for AI Safety (CAIS) Action Fund for technical suggestions and cosponsorship. As CAIS’s founder, my commitment to transformative technologies impacting public safety is our mission’s cornerstone. To preserve innovation, we must anticipate potential pitfalls, because an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Recognizing SB 1047’s groundbreaking nature, we were thrilled to help and have advocated for its adoption ever since.
Read More: Exclusive: California Bill Proposes Regulating AI at State Level
Targeted at the most advanced AI models, it will require large companies to test for hazards, implement safeguards, ensure shutdown capabilities, protect whistleblowers, and manage risks. These measures aim to prevent cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, bioengineering of viruses, or other malicious activities with the potential to cause widespread destruction and mass casualties
Anthropic recently warned that AI risks could emerge in “as little as 1-3 years,” disputing critics who view safety concerns as imaginary. Of course, if these risks are indeed fictitious, developers shouldn’t fear liability. Moreover, developers have pledged to tackle these issues, aligning with President Joe Biden’s recent executive order, reaffirmed at the 2024 AI Seoul Summit.
Enforcement is lean by design, allowing California’s Attorney General to act only in extreme cases. There are no licensing requirements for new models, nor does it punish honest mistakes or criminalize open sourcing—the practice of making software source code freely available. It wasn’t drafted by Big Tech or those focused on distant future scenarios. The bill aims to prevent frontier labs from neglecting caution and critical safeguards in their rush to release the most capable models.
Like most AI safety researchers, I am in large part driven by a belief in its immense potential to benefit society, and deeply concerned about preserving that potential. As a global leader in AI, California is too. This shared concern is why state politicians and AI safety researchers are enthusiastic about SB 1047, as history tells us that a major disaster, like the nuclear one at Three Mile Island on March 28, 1979, could set a burgeoning industry back decades.
Regulatory bodies responded to the partial nuclear meltdown by overhauling nuclear safety standards and protocols. These changes increased the operational costs and complexity of running nuclear plants, as operators invested in new safety systems and complied with rigorous oversight. The regulatory challenges made nuclear energy less appealing, halting its expansion over the next 30 years.
Three Mile Island led to a greater dependence on coal, oil, and natural gas. It is often argued that this was a significant lost opportunity to advance toward a more sustainable and efficient global energy infrastructure. While it remains uncertain whether stricter regulations could have averted the incident, it is clear that a single event can profoundly impact public perception, stifling the long-term potential of an entire industry.
Some people will view any government action on industry with suspicion, considering it inherently detrimental to business, innovation, and a state or country’s competitive edge. Three Mile Island demonstrates this perspective is short-sighted, as measures to reduce the chances of a disaster are often in the long-term interest of emerging industries. It is also not the only cautionary tale for the AI industry.
When social media platforms first emerged, they were largely met with enthusiasm and optimism. A 2010 Pew Research Center survey found that 67% of American adults who used social media believed it had a mostly positive impact. Futurist Brian Solis captured this ethos when he proclaimed, “Social media is the new way to communicate, the new way to build relationships, the new way to build businesses, and the new way to build a better world.”
He was three-fourths correct.
Driven by concerns over privacy breaches, misinformation, and mental health impacts, public perception of social media has flipped, with 64% of Americans viewing it negatively. Scandals like Cambridge Analytica eroded trust, while fake news and polarizing content highlighted social media’s role in societal division. A Royal Society for Public Health study showed 70% of young people experienced cyberbullying, with 91% of 16-24-year-olds stating social media harms their mental wellbeing. Users and policymakers around the globe are increasingly vocal about needing stricter regulations and greater accountability from social media companies.
This did not happen because social media companies are uniquely evil. Like other emerging industries, the early days were a “wild west” where companies rushed to dominate a burgeoning market and government regulation was lacking. Platforms with addictive, often harmful content thrived, and we are now all paying the price. The companies—increasingly mistrusted by consumers and in the crosshairs of regulators, legislators, and courts—included.
The optimism surrounding social media wasn’t misplaced. The technology did have the potential to break down geographical barriers and foster a sense of global community, democratize information, and facilitate positive social movements. As the author Erik Qualman warned, “We don’t have a choice on whether we do social media, the question is how well we do it.”
The lost potential of social media and nuclear energy was tragic, but it’s nothing compared to squandering AI’s potential. Smart legislation like SB 1047 is our best tool for preventing this while protecting innovation and competition.
The history of technological regulation showcases our capacity for foresight and adaptability. When railroads transformed 19th-century transportation, governments standardized track gauges, signaling, and safety protocols. The advent of electricity led to codes and standards preventing fires and electrocutions. The automobile revolution necessitated traffic laws and safety measures like seat belts and airbags. In aviation, bodies like the FAA established rigorous safety standards, making flying the safest form of transportation.
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TODAY’S NUCLEAR WORLD’S NEWS, Wednesday, (08/28/2024)
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
Did Ukraine just call Putin’s nuclear bluff? – Vox
Vox
Zelenskyy says its time for the West to stop being so scared about Russian nuclear escalation … “Our partners understand all these things very well, …
Nuclear Energy Is A Distraction From Climate Action – India Seminar Series – CleanTechnica
CleanTechnica
Earlier discussions were Electrifying Everything Everywhere All at Once, for example, because electricity is the most efficient way to deliver th
California’s Draft AI Law Would Protect More than Just People | TIME
Time
“This is a tough call and will make some people upset, but, all things … nuclear one at Three Mile Island on March 28, 1979, could set a …
Nuclear Power
NEWS
Nuclear reactors a mile underground promise safe, cheap power – New Atlas
New Atlas
Deep Fission has come up with a new solution to the economic and safety problems of nuclear power that is, to say the least, novel.
An American Nuclear Renaissance Starts by Reviving the Atomic Age of Old
American Enterprise Institute
How difficult a task? America is finding out when it comes to one particular sector: nuclear energy. The Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan, …
Russia’s Kursk nuclear plant “extremely exposed” if attacked, UN watchdog warns
YouTube
A day after one of Russia’s largest aerial attacks on Ukraine, at least eight more Ukrainians have been killed in new strikes on Tuesday.
Nuclear Power Emergencies
NEWS
Residents frustrated after Duke Energy Nuclear Station siren malfunction – FOX Carolina
FOX Carolina
A malfunction caused …
Residents frustrated after Duke Energy Nuclear Station siren malfunction – YouTube
YouTube
A malfunction caused emergency sirens at Duke Energy’s nuclear power station to be heard in two Upstate counties. Duke is investigating the cause …
Kazakhstan advances nuclear power plans amid energy shortages – Daryo.uz
Daryo.uz
… emergency situations. These reactors feature multiple backup systems and deeply echeloned emergency protections to ensure safety. Photo …
Nuclear War
NEWS
Russian Nuclear Attack Risk! World War 3 Closer Than Ever Before? Lavrov’s Warning Amid …
YouTube
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested the West ‘is asking for it’. Lavrov spoke about weapons potentially being supplied to and used by …
From Cold War to Hot Nukes: Could the US or China win a full-scale nuclear war?
The Economic Times
The Centre for a New American Security’s exercise on a 2032 Sino-American nuclear war scenario over Taiwan reveals alarming insights.
UN watchdog says Russian nuclear plant ‘extremely exposed’ if attacked – YouTube
YouTube
Comments5 · How much worse is the humanitarian crisis becoming in Gaza? · Why Germany Hates Nuclear Power · The First 20 Minutes of a Nuclear Attack …
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
Russia warns the United States of the risks of World War Three – CNBC TV18
CNBC TV18
Russia warns the United States of the risks of World War Three. Sergei … Russia’s 2020 nuclear doctrine sets out when its president would consider …
Russia again threatens nuclear weapons: Zelenskyy commented on the threats – ТСН
ТСН
Massive Russian attack: an expert identifies the threats of the coming days … Following the massive attack on August 26, when Putin’s army launched a …
Zelenskyy holds briefing on Russia-Ukraine war and nuclear threats
Mississippi Valley Publishing
SMS · Email. AP. Zelenskyy holds briefing on Russia-Ukraine war and nuclear threats. Aug 27, 2024; 4 hrs ago. Facebook · Twitter · WhatsApp · SMS
Yellowstone Caldera
NEWS
57 km WNW of Tatitlek, Alaska, on Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024, at 05:47 pm (Anchorage Time)
Volcano Discovery
… caldera and picturesque villages. Discover its fascinating … Yellowstone quakes · Yellowstone quakes · Latest earthquakes under Yellowstone volcano