[mrangle]

I think they mean to borrow from the fear of the former in order to apply it to the latter in practice, when using the term in the abstract. At least when speaking to the public.

But not to worry. For better or worse, in short time these concerns will seem like they were a foolish delusion. If not because of their questionable morality, then because they were so wildly unrealistic in application.

That's not to say that AI safety won't be a topic for decades to come or longer, simply because it confers political and harassment power. Even if ineffective in terms of AI in practice.