AI Safety Needs Democracy to Survive

Artificial intelligence safety is now a mainstream concern. After years as a topic for tech experts and futurists, the risks of AI—from cyberattacks to manipulation to unpredictable behavior—are being discussed in government offices and at dinner tables alike. The conversation has grown beyond traditional safety issues. It now includes AI's effects on the economy and the environment, as well as possible solutions, from alignment research to government regulation. As AI grows more powerful, protecting democracy becomes more urgent. The technology poses a threat to democratic institutions themselves.