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Noema ·Future-gazing

Let the People Set the Pace of Frontier AI

by Hélène Landemore

Published 2026-09-23 13:57:27+00:00

If the people building artificial intelligence are asking to slow down, why are they still racing?

0:00 / 19:52 · Narrator Vindemiatrix

Context

The leaders of the biggest artificial intelligence labs keep asking for someone to step in and slow them down. But a voluntary ceasefire is impossible when Washington and Beijing are terrified of falling behind. Writing on 23 September 2026, Hélène Landemore and Audrey Tang lay out the trap these companies are caught in. Since the United Nations is paralyzed by those same national rivalries, the authors ask how to build a referee the whole world might actually trust. Their answer bypasses politicians entirely, putting everyday people in the judge's seat.

Show notes

A proposal to regulate the pace of advanced AI development by establishing a standing assembly of 1,000 randomly selected citizens from around the world. The plan outlines how this body would operate independently of national governments to set safety limits and review audits of major technology labs. By requiring companies and rival nations to publicly answer to its recommendations, the authors describe a system to coordinate a global slowdown without relying on the United Nations.

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