[ta1243]

Well depends on your point of view

But I don't see China or North Korea firing nukes or even blowing up western buildings. They are limited by the threat of response.

A rogue wacko in his basement can make Kim Jong Un look like Theodore Roosevelt.

[pbronez]

The term you’re looking for is “constrained” and “unconstrained” actors. The Chinese and North Korean governments are state level actors, constrained by their internal institutions and power dynamics. A rogue wacko is unconstrained - they do whatever they want with no limitations beyond their own mind and individual capabilities.

Examples:

In the Iran Hostage Crisis you had a constrained actor (Iranian government) making somewhat rational choices to use hostage taking as a negotiation tactic.

In the Oklahoma City Bombing, you had unconstrained actors (Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols) blowing up a building with a vehicle borne improvised explosive device for personal reasons.

[PeterisP]

We do see North Korea, Russia and Iran funding cyberattacks (e.g. major ransomware operations) and supplying weapons to various external groups. If/when we get to a stage when a wacko in his basement possessing some AI tool could be dangerous, we can expect state-level bad actors to make and deliver such tools to any wacko they'll consider likely to use against the west i.e. us.