[Problem profile] “Gradual disempowerment” by Cody Fenwick

The proliferation of advanced AI systems may lead to the gradual disempowerment of humanity, even if efforts to prevent them from becoming power-seeking or scheming are successful. Humanity may be incentivised to hand over increasing amounts of control to AIs, giving them power over the economy, politics, culture, and more. Over time, humanity's interests may be sidelined and our control over the future undermined, potentially constituting an existential catastrophe. There's disagreement over how serious a problem this is and how it relates to other concerns about AI alignment [...]

Narrated by AI.

---

Outline:

(00:09) Summary

(01:10) Why might gradual disempowerment be an especially pressing problem?

(06:48) How pressing is this issue?

(07:21) What are the arguments against this being a pressing problem?

(08:14) What can you do to help?

(10:17) Key organisations in this space

(10:50) Learn more

(11:58) Explore other pressing world problems

The original text contained 1 footnote which was omitted from this narration.

---

First published:
April 4th, 2025

Source:
https://80000hours.org/problem-profiles/gradual-disempowerment

---

Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.