The NY Times editorial board (!) is now officially calling for a slowdown.

"The US should seek a coordinated AI slowdown with China, following the model of nuclear talks with the Soviet Union during the Cold War."

How big of a deal is this?

1) The board only does ~5-10 of these a year. It's serious institutional credibility. This not just a one-off opinion piece from a random person.

2) The board has staked a position it the NYT, as an institution, now has to defend and build on.

"The nuclear analogy is useful because it reminds us of something our cynical age can forget: Human society can restrain a dangerous innovation once it decides to.

Government officials, scientists and corporate executives did so within living memory. It took sustained, deliberate effort.

The same kind of cooperation is necessary today, and it should start now."

"The recent calls for a voluntary slowdown from A.I. executives including Mr. Amodei, Sam Altman and Elon Musk are welcome" ... but "a voluntary slowdown is not the answer."

"The rest of society cannot be in the position of constantly pleading with A.I. executives to act altruistically. A key role of government is to protect society’s best interests from private interests."