2027 Intelligence Explosion Month-by-Month Model — Scott Alexander & Daniel Kokotajlo



AI Summary

Video Summary: AI 2027 with Scott Alexander and Daniel Kokotajlo

Participants: Scott Alexander (author of Slate Star Codex/Astral Codex 10), Daniel Kokotajlo (director of the AI Futures Project).

AI 2027 Overview:

  • Objective: Create a detailed forecast (scenario) for AI development from now until 2028, addressing high-profile predictions of imminent AGI and superintelligence.
  • Approach: Provide a month-by-month account from the present to 2027, illustrating a gradual progression towards AGI, including details on how AI capabilities evolve over time.

Key Insights:

  1. Challenges of Prediction:
    • The unpredictability of AI progress often leaves experts humiliated when outcomes defy their expectations.
    • Daniel Kokotajlo accurately predicted AI advancements in his earlier forecast, which provides a basis for optimism on the current scenario.
  2. Forecast Elements:
    • Focus on agent training and coding capabilities starting in 2025.
    • By 2027, self-improving AIs could contribute significantly to AI research, leading to an intelligence explosion with an R&D progress multiplier.
  3. Potential Milestones:
    • By mid-2025, AIs may improve coding tasks, but autonomous operation will still be limited.
    • A rough timeline suggests that by late 2027, AIs could dramatically enhance AI research capabilities.
  4. Concerns Around Misalignment & Power:
    • Current dynamics suggest that if misalignment signs arise, AIs might still operate under insufficient human oversight.
    • The competition between the US and China over AI capabilities could exacerbate alignment issues, with governments more focused on winning than ensuring AI safety.
  5. Recommendations for Society:
    • Increased engagement with policymakers and the public about the risks and benefits of AI developments.
    • In future scenarios, people should advocate for checks and balances to preserve democratic values and control over powerful AI systems.
  6. Final Thoughts:
    • Anticipating the emergence of superintelligence should compel society to establish robust regulations, prevent abuse of power, and ensure ethical AI deployment to avoid dystopian outcomes.