Behind the Curtain: It's not too late

The White House, Congress and the country's leading AI companies have allowed AI to grow faster, stronger, more powerful and wildly lucrative (and dangerous), with no serious effort to control it or spread the benefits beyond the super-wealthy. It's not too late to change this. But if they all dither, duck or dance around it, the chances of AI worst-case scenarios will explode, likely early next year, according to almost every person we talk to privately who truly understands AI.Why it matters: The technology is getting better, faster than anyone envisioned — with the possibility rising that AI will self-improve and do wildly unpredictable things.The good news: There's now a growing public cry for attention and action and, at least in private, a broad understanding of what could be done relatively fast with bipartisan and industry buy-in.The big picture: In July, I wrote an essay for The Wall Street Journal saying America "faces one of those rare, historic moments when government, business, schools and families could be working together to meet a truly generational challenge: winning the AI race. So far, we're blowing it."Two short months later, the technology is vastly better — and the societal response vastly dumber. As a nation, we're choosing to amuse or distract ourselves. Here's how to change that fast, based on our months of conversations with lawmakers, White House officials and AI labs. Think of what follows as me channeling their private views:Sound an all-hands-on-deck alarm. Every political topic is trivial and small compared to AI. We will look back in shame if we get spooled up about trans bans or $5,000 checks when countless AI insiders are warning of catastrophic outcomes. Let's say they're all paranoid and delusional. If so, it still doesn't matter: we've never seen this much investment in one technology this fast in human history. It's seeping into every industry and every job and every community and every screen, at a speed never before witnessed by man. Yes, we need a special session of Congress and select committees. But we need even more: AI execs, bioterror specialists, job-training wizards and safety experts convening to plan for scenarios and act fast.An AI governing body with teeth and speed, ASAP. This isn't rocket science. Most major labs want this and would agree to it, as long as it applies to all rivals and competitors. This body would need the expertise to understand these models, and the power to review and shut them down if they display dangerous behavior. It can't operate at typical regulatory speed — it needs to move as fast as the technology. It's nonsense to think you can't advance AI development fast and regulate it wisely simultaneously.A universal standard for data centers to benefit communities and taxpayers. The top AI companies would take this deal in a heartbeat: They get to build and operate data centers provided they supply a community's energy, offset water use or environmental damage, transparently