How much of the “danger” is from better models vs the harness? Isn’t the current risk due to how AI is configured, like giving it a full set of tools and internet access and a goal to hack stuff? If we think we need laws or gate keeping, why isn’t it at this level? I already can’t ddos someone or fuzz their server or whatever right, I imagine if I threw equivalent compute at old school hacking I’d just get arrested.…
But yeah, directionally I think you're right. It's insane we ever let these things connect to the Internet or to write, never mind execute code.
But for the economic counterargument, the distinction doesn't matter much. Continuing research but constraining harnesses is just accepting nearly all of the costs and foregoing nearly all of the benefits.
Who has appetite for that?