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The Problem With“Doomers” and “Optimists”

L5 · ResearcherOpinion & AnalysisLessWrong AI· 10/10/2026

Challenges prevailing AI safety discourse frameworks relevant to researchers and policymakers.

AI Summary

Author argues that common 'doomer' vs 'optimist' AI labels are backwards and proposes a new taxonomy for AI risk perspectives.

Excerpt

In the modern zeitgeist, we have begun to throw around labels to describe different outlooks about the future, with flavors like “doomer” and “optimist.” The “doomers” are framed as anti-technological progress, and the “optimists” as rational, pro-progress hopefuls. The problem is, this is exactly backwards. This is my very naïve attempt to make an exploratory taxonomy for what is really going on, and I would be interested in hearing thoughts from others in the comments/by DM. The best existing

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