The Disappearance of an Anti-AI Activist
6 days ago
- #disappearance
- #AI-safety
- #activism
- Sam Kirchner, an anti-AI activist, has been missing for two weeks, raising concerns about his safety and intentions.
- Kirchner co-founded Stop AI, a group advocating for a global ban on artificial superintelligence, fearing it could lead to human extinction.
- Stop AI employs nonviolent civil disobedience, but Kirchner allegedly became disillusioned with nonviolence, leading to his expulsion after a violent confrontation.
- OpenAI locked down its offices due to concerns Kirchner might target employees, though friends doubt he poses a real threat.
- The AI-safety movement is divided on tactics and rhetoric, with groups like PauseAI advocating for cautious, non-disruptive protests.
- Kirchner's disappearance has sparked debates about the psychological toll of apocalyptic rhetoric and the risks of radicalization in activist movements.
- Friends suspect Kirchner is camping alone, feeling betrayed, and possibly experiencing a mental-health crisis.
- The broader AI-safety community has distanced itself from violence, emphasizing nonviolent strategies to address AI risks.
- Kirchner's case highlights tensions within activist movements over how to balance urgency with ethical boundaries.