This podcast episode features a critical discussion on AI safety, highlighting the perspectives of California State Senator Scott Wiener and renowned AI researcher Yoshua Bengio. They address the pressing concerns surrounding AI, advocating for proactive measures to mitigate risks associated with both near-term misuse and long-term misalignment. The conversation highlights the necessity of regulations like SB 1047, which aims to enforce safety evaluations in AI development, amidst a backdrop of skepticism and psychological biases within the AI community. Overall, the episode serves as a clarion call for urgent action in the face of potential future risks, emphasizing the importance of legislative safeguards to ensure responsible AI progress.