On using crises to shift political will for AI

A new LessWrong essay contends that crises, rather than research alone, drive significant policy change—and suggests that upcoming AI safety incidents could accelerate governance reform. The author draws parallels to historical examples: the Cuyahoga River fire prompting environmental regulation, Thalidomide spurring drug-safety rules, and a recent OpenAI security breach leading to congressional calls for transparency mandates. As the essay argues, high-profile incidents affecting critical infrastructure or large populations overcome political inertia more effectively than advocacy campaigns.

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