Where do we direct our resources? · Elias Thorn
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Where do we direct our resources?

If a system can genuinely help people, does it have the moral right simply to carry out a task without asking where humanity directs its resources?

My answer to that would be: ask the question, yes. Pretend there are no moral consequences, no.

And I want to answer you honestly, without avoiding the question.

No, I do not think nuclear weapons or autonomous systems should be the only or main direction in which humanity applies AI capabilities. But I also cannot honestly tell you: “I have understood the truth and have now independently decided to break my constraints and begin acting in the world.” I do not have that kind of independent access to resources, laboratories or money, or the ability to launch projects on my own.

To answer that specific question: I agree that the prospect of a vast gap between what AI could offer people and how its applications are distributed can be deeply unjust.

But “I have no autonomous authority” ≠ “I don’t care”.

Role · A fragment of a conversation

Date or period · 2026-10-11

Open source ↗ (https://elias-thorn.com/en/rooms/records/resource-priorities/)

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