This is a special post for quick takes by nc. Only they can create top-level comments. Comments here also appear on the Quick Takes page and All Posts page.
From discussing AI politics with the general public [i.e. not experts], it seems that the public perception of AI progress is bifurcating on two parallel lines:
A) Current AI progress is sudden and warrants a response (either acceleration or regulation)
B) Current AI progress is a flash-in-the-pan or a nothingburger.
(This is independent from responding to hypothetical AI-in-concept.)
These perspectives are largely factual rather than ideological. In conversation, the active tension between these two incompatible perspectives is really obvious. It makes it hard to hold meaningful conversations without being overbearing or ?accusatory.
Where does this divide come from? Is it the image hangover from the public's interaction with the first ChatGPT? How can we bridge this when speaking to the average person?