About This Paper iii

Settlement and Governance Behind the AI Frontier 1

  1. The Power Intelligence Gains from Being in a Machine 4

     The Fork in the Road: Intelligence Embedded in Machines 4

     The Six Machine Characteristics That Amplify Intelligence 5

  2. Software: A Silicon Thinker’s Less Appreciated Parent 11

  3. Distributed Superintelligence and Drexler’s Progression 13

     Artificial General Intelligence and Superintelligence 14

     Recursive Self-Improvement 16

  4. Oozing 20

  5. Governance 24

    The U.S. Government, Frontier Models, and Data Centers 24

    Addressing AI Requires Thinking About Challenges Beyond AI 25

    Governance Beyond Government 27

    The Radical Renovation of U.S. Political Life 28

  Conclusion 32

Abbreviations 33

References 34

About the Author 40