Pausing Executions in Light of AI Progress

A LessWrong essay from appellate defense attorney Caleb Horn argues that executions on death row should be paused given the pace of AI progress. Horn contends that an aligned superintelligent AI could eventually offer near-perfect rehabilitation and even life extension, undercutting most traditional justifications for capital punishment. As Horn tells it, that would leave only retribution as a rationale, and he predicts society may look back within a decade or two ashamed that executions continued.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton