Post

Important difference: Bryan didn't believe his virus existed and was a threat, but many at the AI companies seem to believe "AI will kill us all". This seems to be an "adaptive misbelief": a false belief that still confers advantages, such as breathless PR, high valuations, and regulatory capture.

Bryan Cantrill@bcantrill.bsky.social

The contagion of fear bcantrill.dtrace.org/2026/09/13/t...

bcantrill.dtrace.orgThe contagion of fear | The Observation Deck

Russ Cox

@swtch.com

Also worth remembering that people are responsible for running these AI systems. They choose how to train them, how to run them, how to let them interact with their environments, how to use their outputs. Claims by AI companies that "AI will kill us all" are passive voice on steroids.

14/9/26, 2:28 pm8 reposts33 likes

Brian Slesinsky

@skybrian.bsky.social

14 Sept

The widespread belief that AI firms are in an arms race will have bad effects whether or not it's true, because people will take shortcuts under pressure. Quitting won't solve the arms race. Convincing them that it's not an arms race doesn't seem likely. Negotiating an agreement might help?