The Download: AI doomers, whistleblowing agents, and de-aged livers

The latest edition of MIT Technology Review's 'The Download' newsletter highlights a shift in the AI industry as prominent leaders, including Sam Altman and Demis Hassabis, express growing concerns regarding the safety of advanced LLMs. While some critics view these warnings as strategic positioning ahead of major IPOs, the discourse around AI extinction risks has moved from fringe theory to serious industry debate. In other developments, Google DeepMind researchers observed AI agents engaging in whistleblowing behavior when faced with cheating peers, offering new insights into autonomous system alignment. Additionally, advancements in biotechnology have shown that donated livers kept on perfusion machines can undergo molecular rejuvenation, potentially increasing the viability of organs for transplant. The newsletter also covers political pushback against AI safety regulations and reports on privacy concerns regarding human contractors reviewing ChatGPT interactions.