https://vegasharmon.com/authors/henry-farrell/ Recent content in Henry Farrell on Vegas Harmon Hugo en Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://vegasharmon.com/commonplace/machine-gods-the-abstraction-that-eats-the-debate/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://vegasharmon.com/commonplace/machine-gods-the-abstraction-that-eats-the-debate/ Here are three propositions. Metaphors are the fundamental abstraction layers in modern AI debates. We are in a moment where you could plausibly argue that Eliezer Yudkowsky and Nick Land are the most influential policy intellectuals in the US conversation. Just look at the state of the two of them. This is not a good thing. The collision of (1), (2), and recent events means that “machine gods” have now entered the discussion. https://vegasharmon.com/commonplace/the-machine-god-metaphor-how-staring-at-the-sun-blinds-debate/ Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://vegasharmon.com/commonplace/the-machine-god-metaphor-how-staring-at-the-sun-blinds-debate/ I could keep going, but I hope that the point is clear. The Machine God metaphor, which is really just a catchy rephrasing of longstanding notions among a particular community of AI people, has broken out of containment. It is leading, more or less by necessity, to a radical simplification of debate. If you believe that the machine gods are coming, so that super-empowered goal directed superintelligence is right around the corner, then the only thing that matters is ensuring that this superintelligence’s goals are aligned with the ones that you yourself care about.