Eric Schmidt Warns of AI Arms Race Leading to 'Mutual Assured AI Malfunction'

The former Google CEO and co-authors argue for deterrence and regulation to avoid destabilizing global AI competition.

Eric Schmidt, Alexandr Wang, and Dan Hendrycks warn against a U.S.-led 'Manhattan Project' for AI, comparing its risks to the nuclear arms race.
The authors propose 'Mutual Assured AI Malfunction' (MAIM), a deterrence framework to prevent nations from pursuing AI supremacy through the threat of sabotage.
The paper highlights the potential for geopolitical instability if superintelligent AI is achieved, urging international collaboration and regulation similar to nuclear nonproliferation agreements.
Schmidt and Wang emphasize the dual-use nature of AI, which could advance fields like medicine but also pose significant risks in military applications.
The authors call for stronger AI chip export controls, enhanced cyber capabilities, and domestic resilience in AI supply chains to maintain U.S. competitiveness and security.