Scott Alexander on chips (from the comments)

From this post on chip export bans:

Didn’t we have a conversation where you said Chinese AI was so terrifying that we couldn’t consider any AI slowing or pause, because all of our efforts had to be put into preventing China from beating us in AI? And when I discussed reasons that this might not be the right way to look at things, you said that no, beating China in AI was such a desperately important cause that we couldn’t worry about little things like that?

And now the Biden administration is actually doing something decisive to beat China in AI, and you’re splitting hairs about whether this is the exact most politically appropriate time?

That seems to be the real Scott from the IP address and his knowledge of our conversation.  Plus it sounds like Scott (apologies if it is not!).

I would say this: since I chatted with Scott I took a very instructive and positive trip to United Arab Emirates.  I am very impressed by their plans to put serious energy power behind AI projects.  If you think about it, they have a major presence in three significant energy sources: fossil fuels, solar (more to come), and nuclear (much more to come).  They also are not so encumbered by NIMBY constraints, whereas some of the American nuclear efforts have in the meantime met with local and regional stumbling blocks.  There really is plenty of empty desert there.

So I think America has a great chance to work with UAE on these issues.  I do understand there are geopolitical and other risks to such a collaboration, but I think the risks from no collaboration are greater.

This short tale is a good example of the benefits of travel.

And if you can get to Abu Dhabi, I urge you to go.  In addition to what I learned about AI, I very much enjoyed their branch of the Louvre, with its wonderful Greek statue and Kandinsky, among other works, not to mention the building itself.  The Abrahamic Family House, on a plaza, has a lovely mix of mosque, church, and synagogue, the latter of course being politically brave and much needed in the Middle East.