Vitalik Buterin Proposes AI Hardware Pause for Safety

His suggestion? Temporarily limit global computational resources for one to two years. This would help “buy more time for humanity” to prepare for what’s coming down the pike. Let’s discover more about this new post from Vitalik Buterin.

Buterin Proposes “Soft Pause” to Slow Superintelligent AI Development

This “soft pause” would involve reducing global computing power by up to 99%. The goal is to slow down the development of superintelligent AI and give humanity time to adapt. While Buterin acknowledged this as a last resort, he emphasized its importance in scenarios where AI risks are significant. He also suggested industrial AI hardware could be equipped with chips requiring weekly authorization from major international bodies to continue operations.

Superintelligent AI, often depicted as more brilliant than humanity’s brightest minds, has sparked widespread concern among tech leaders and researchers. A March 2023 open letter signed by over 2,600 individuals, including Elon Musk and other tech executives, called for a halt in AI development due to its “profound risks to society and humanity.”

d/acc: one year later https://t.co/pM3eVtJ1BU

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 5, 2025

Buterin’s stance builds on his earlier advocacy for “defensive accelerationism” (d/acc). This approach emphasizes cautious tech development, a contrast to “effective accelerationism” (e/acc), which encourages rapid and unrestricted advancements. In his post, Buterin admitted his previous discussions on d/acc lacked specificity but noted this new proposal aims to address high-risk AI scenarios directly.

Buterin Proposes AI Liability Rules and Hardware Regulation

He also mentioned that liability rules could be another safeguard. These would hold developers and users of AI accountable for damages caused by their models. However, Buterin sees a hardware pause as a stronger measure, only to be implemented if liability rules prove insufficient.

Buterin’s blog also outlined ideas for regulating AI hardware, such as registering AI chips and ensuring their location is known. For added security, hardware chips could rely on blockchain technology to verify compliance with authorization protocols, offering a transparent and tamper-proof solution.

Vitalik Buterin suggests a “soft pause” on AI hardware to slow down superintelligent AI development 🤖⏸️.

He proposes limiting global computing power by 99% for up to 2 years to buy time for humanity to prepare. Smart or overcautious? 🤔

💻 #AI #TechEthics #VitalikButerin pic.twitter.com/CJ2D0YFwA8

— Crypto B 👑 (Never DM first) 🇧🇷 (@TheCrypto_B) January 6, 2025

While the idea of a hardware pause may seem like pulling the brakes on innovation, Buterin sees it as a way to keep humanity safe from potential catastrophe. As he put it, this pause could ensure we don’t “jump the gun” in unleashing technologies that might spiral out of control.

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