Week 2 · When change speeds up

Which decisions can wait?

AI-assisted research could accelerate further research. Forethought asks how institutions might cope if major decisions arrive close together. The speed and extent of that acceleration remain contested.

Compute constraints, physical experiments and diminishing returns could slow the feedback loop. Better future researchers may also solve some questions more cheaply.

What observable sign would convince you that research automation has begun to accelerate itself?

Choose a grand challenge. Describe an early decision, its decision-maker and why it is difficult to reverse.

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