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LIMITLESS - AI DEBATE: Runaway Superintelligence or Normal Technology? | Daniel Kokotajlo vs Arvind
June 04, 2025
Two visions for the future of AI clash in this debate between Daniel Kokotajlo and Arvind Narayanan. Is AI a revolutionary new species destined for runaway superintelligence, or just another step in humanity’s technological evolution—like electricity or the internet? Daniel, a former OpenAI researcher and author of AI 2027, argues for a fast-approaching intelligence explosion. Arvind, a Princeton professor and co-author of AI Snake Oil, contends that AI is powerful but ultimately controllable and slow to reshape society. Moderated by Ryan and David, this conversation dives into the crux of capability vs. power, economic transformation, and the future of democratic agency in an AI-driven world. ------ 💫 LIMITLESS | SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW https://limitless.bankless.com/ https://x.com/LimitlessFT ------ BANKLESS SPONSOR TOOLS: 🪙FRAX | SELF SUFFICIENT DeFi https://bankless.cc/Frax 🦄UNISWAP | SWAP ON UNICHAIN https://bankless.cc/unichain 🛞MANTLE | MODULAR LAYER 2 NETWORK https://bankless.cc/Mantle 🌐SELF | PROVE YOUR SELF https://bankless.cc/Self 🟠BINANCE | THE WORLDS #1 CRYPTO EXCHANGE https://bankless.cc/binance ------ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 4:44 Is AI Normal Tech? 30:20 Capability & Power 44:52 Manageable or Existential? 52:36 AGI Milestone 1:00:31 AI by 2030 1:12:07 Making Sense 1:16:08 Closing & Disclaimers ------ RESOURCES Daniel Kokotajlo https://x.com/dkokotajlo Arvind Narayanan https://x.com/random_walker Two Paths For AI - Daniel https://www.newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/two-paths-for-ai AI as Normal Technology - Arvind https://knightcolumbia.org/content/ai-as-normal-technology AI 2027 - Daniel https://ai-2027.com/ AI Snake Oil - Arvind https://www.aisnakeoil.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Snake-Oil-Artificial-Intelligence-Difference/dp/069124913X Pause AI https://pauseai.info/pdoom ------ Not financial or tax advice. See our investment disclosures here: https://www.bankless.com/disclosures⁠