You (Yes, You) Need A February 2020 Checklist for AI Policy

Dave Kasten, in an essay on LessWrong, argues that artificial intelligence is likely to suddenly become America's top political issue—a crisis moment when urgent decisions get made fast. Drawing on history, he points out that successful crisis response doesn't rely on improvisation; it relies on detailed plans people prepared in advance. The current problem, Kasten explains, is that most AI organizations and policymakers don't have those runbooks ready. His recommendation is concrete: every AI org should develop detailed checklists now—updated twice yearly—so they can execute rapidly if AI policy abruptly becomes a priority. He acknowledges the timeline is uncertain but argues the risk of a crisis in the next two to three years justifies preparation today.

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