Helen Toner Takes the CSET Reins

In this episode of ChinaTalk, Jordan Schneider interviews Helen Toner, the director of CSET and former OpenAI board member, about her vision for CSET, her recent trip to China, and the core technical and policy questions surrounding AI. They discuss the importance of evidence-based and technically informed research in the think tank world, as well as the challenges of operating in an environment where facts sometimes matter less than sensationalized arguments. Toner shares her perspective on the US-China AI dialogue, the potential for cooperation, and the national security implications of AI, including military integration, cyber risks, and bio risks. The conversation also explores the idea of "jagged" AI progress, where AI excels at some tasks but remains deficient in others, and the policy implications of this uneven development.