[ExI] AI Regulation (was: Re: Godwin's Law - Ammended (sic))

[Ben Zaiboc]

On 11/03/2026 22:44, spike wrote:
> Rasmussen did a poll of Americans on whether or not AI should be regulated.  
>
> Wording of the question:
>
> 3* Which is closer to your opinion, that the government needs to regulate artificial intelligence technology, or that the government needs to stay out of the way and let the free market decide about artificial intelligence?
>
> Outcome: 61% government regulation yes, 25% government regulation no, 13% not sure.
>
> That is a more one-sided opinion than is common.


Hmm.

AI is a global phenomenon, so when you are asked "Does the government need to regulate artificial intelligence technology?", The relevant counter-question is: "Which government?". This is not like your 'World Series', you know, it genuinely is world-wide.

Apart from my conviction that AI tech. /can't/ be regulated in any meaningful way (just switch 'AI' to 'porn', to see what I mean, and that's apart from the 'superior intelligence' aspect), I don't think this is even a sensible question. Who is 'the government'? In some countries, like the US, it keeps changing, doesn't it? (at least, it has up to now, we'll just have to see if that continues to be the case).

You might argue that AI regulation makes sense (it doesn't), but it would have to be by something other than 'the government' (meaning 'my government'). And you'd have to realise that even if one government did try to regulate AI, many other ones would simply ignore them. It would be silly to expect otherwise.

If a bunch of governments got together to agree a regulation framework, the same applies. AI regulation would be as effective as International Law, or Universal Human Rights.

Does anyone here really think it would be a good idea to entrust 'AI regulation' to the Trump administration? We've already seen what the pentagon, under this administration, want from AI.

We're probably lucky that AI is not able to be regulated in any meaningful way. At least that means there's a chance it will turn out well, even if it's a slim one.

-- 
Ben