[zamalek]

SAI != ET.

The idea of SAI is that it progresses at a significantly faster rate than biological processes can. For example, if humans and chimps were on a "staircase of evolution" and were one step apart; SAI would be one step above us a mere hour after it is turned on. After 2 hours it would be multiple steps above us. So the theory goes, anyway.

This means that evil aliens would be unlikely more dangerous than evil SAI.

Not that he's suggesting we announce our presence to aliens, merely look for them.

[pekk]

A minor note on word usage here: usually the word "theory" is reserved for explanations with a good track record rather than wild speculation.

[randallsquared]

A timescale of hours is not required for most of the AI-doom arguments; if it took a year, that would have a similar outcome.

[zamalek]

It's definitely not a requirement, it's just an example of how it could rapidly progress. Within the scope of the argument 1 hour is as plausible as 1 year - the main point is that it happens shockingly fast and continues to happen even faster.

[randallsquared]

Humans being humans, one year is not nearly as shocking, which could contribute to people actually considering the possibility.