The Mathematics of Risk
If capability (C) grows exponentially and wisdom (W) grows linearly, the risk (R) of existential or societal harm is a function of the divergence: R = f(C - W). As C accelerates, R does not just increase; it compounds. The Wisdom Deficit is not a static problem but a dynamic one. By the time society learns to handle GPT-4, GPT-5 arrives, resetting the deficit to an even higher initial value.
Phronesis vs. Techne
Aristotle distinguished between techne (technical skill) and phronesis (practical wisdom). We are living in an age of infinite techne and scarce phronesis. We know how to build the bomb (or the model); we do not know when, why, or if to use it. This imbalance is the defining characteristic of the AI era.
Field Notes & Ephemera
Field Standard: The only credible safety strategy is to either slow the Cathedral (which is politically difficult) or radically accelerate the Bazaar (which is sociologically difficult). We are currently attempting neither.