Protesters gather at Idaho Capitol to demand pause on superintelligence

A local call for global action

On Saturday, October 24, a group of protesters gathered at Cecil D. Andrus Park in Boise, Idaho. The demonstration took place directly in front of the Idaho State Capitol to advocate for stricter regulations on artificial intelligence. This event marked the first-ever AI safety protest held in the state of Idaho.

The demonstration was organized by PauseAI Boise, a local chapter of an international movement. The group's primary goal is to prevent AI systems from eventually overpowering humans. They are specifically pushing for a halt to the development of soon-to-be superintelligence systems, which are AI capable of performing work as well as or better than humans across many fields.

Organizers emphasized that they are not seeking to end all artificial intelligence. They acknowledge that AI provides many useful tools for modern life. However, they expressed deep concern regarding how powerful future systems could become if they are developed without sufficient oversight or safety protocols.

The core demands of PauseAI

The group is advocating for a specific international agreement to temporarily pause the development of superintelligent systems. They believe this pause is necessary until these systems can be expanded in a way that is both safe and controllable. As part of this proposal, PauseAI calls for the creation of an international AI safety agent to oversee all training of these systems.

One of the primary concerns for the movement is the reckless race among frontier AI companies. Co-leader Jack Gardner stated, "We think that the reckless race... is something that has an unacceptable risk." The group argues that these systems must be regulated before they reach a level of intelligence that exceeds human capability.

To achieve these goals, the organization supports the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act. This specific piece of legislation would put a hold on the creation of advanced AI until the government sets up safety rules. Furthermore, the act would permanently forbid the creation of any AI that reaches the level of superintelligence.

Growing from a local movement

The Boise chapter was started by Jack and Cathryn Gardner after they discovered the PauseAI movement while looking for ways to get involved in AI regulation. The Gardners have already been active in the community, participating in a discussion about AI hesitancy at Boise State University. They argued during that panel that the development of AI should be paused until stronger safeguards are put in place.

The Gardners noted that the issue of AI development had a powerful effect on them personally, particularly as they considered starting a family. This personal connection drove them to organize a local group to help educate the public about the capabilities and risks of the technology. They describe the movement as a nonviolent and nonpartisan effort to spread awareness.

The Boise protest was intended to be a visible step in their outreach strategy. Cathryn Gardner explained that they wanted to host a protest before the elections to get more eyes and ears on their message. By creating a public demonstration, they hope to show that these concerns are not limited to a small group of experts but affect the general public.

Public sentiment and education

During the protest, volunteers shared speeches and distributed fliers to educate the community. These materials were designed to inform the public about artificial intelligence and provide ways for people to get involved in the conversation. The event featured signs advocating for pro-humanism and highlighting the need for government involvement in managing powerful systems.

Attendees at the protest expressed a variety of concerns regarding the future of technology. Sarah Mullen, a freshman at Boise State, noted that while generative AI can do a lot of good in society, it requires rules. She emphasized the need to slow down development to consider the consequences of having such an advanced technology with so much power.

The movement continues to expand globally, with organizers holding events in several countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, and the Netherlands. By building a global presence, PauseAI aims to show politicians that AI safety is a widespread concern. Jack Gardner noted that they want to demonstrate to lawmakers that this issue affects everyone, not just a few individuals.