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> What's the most dangerous thing that's happened with an LLM so far? I don't know, maybe a mass shooting? https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5953021/openai

> What's the most dangerous thing that's happened with an LLM so far? I don't know, maybe a mass shooting? https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5953021/openai-tumbler-ridge-mass-shooting https://www.npr.org/2026/09/02/nx-s1-5953021/openai-tumbler-... Oh, and let's just forget the uncountable early deaths from the environmental disaster of the Datacenter buildout. It's not as sexy and doesn't make headlines, so those deaths don't really count or matter do they?

huitzitziltzin 8d ago
I did know about the mass shooting but failed to mention it here. I’d put it in the “unlikely to be a widespread problem” category. If we’re in the “one AI driven mass shooting every four years” world for example it’s fair to call it a rare issue. The environmental impact seems either very overblown (e.g., water usage just isn’t that high) and the part that isn’t overblown is totally abatable (e.g., noise and emissions from gas generators). Nuclear or solar/renewables with batteries wouldn’t pollute. I’ve seen no estimates of the additional deaths due to extra emissions specifically from power generation for AI purposes. If you have some, share them. I’m willing to bet that they are a small rounding error against preventable deaths due to emissions from transport and non-AI-related power generation (which is an important and urgent issue worth spending a lot on, to be clear!). I’m happy to update that belief given evidence.
- waterTanuki 8d ago
  Ok, so what is the exact number of preventable deaths per year to build a silicon god you would be ok with?
  - beezlewax 8d ago
    I don't disagree with your statement but you could insert other technological advancenents like railroads or metros or spacecraft in place of Ai here.
  - wallst07 8d ago
    Humans take risk adjusted decisions all the time, OP is still correct that LLM risk is FAR below all the ones we know and accept today. Death by Cars, Cancer, Heart disease etc...
elonfboy 8d ago
Mass shootings are sensational but on the scale of civilizational risk they don’t even compare to something like climate change.
wallst07 8d ago
So the crazy who committed a horrible crime is the fault of a LLM? Maybe so. Certainly there should be some protocols/laws followed here, but do you think this can extend out to cause mass damage or a singular event that should be investigated?

huitzitziltzin 8d ago

I did know about the mass shooting but failed to mention it here. I’d put it in the “unlikely to be a widespread problem” category. If we’re in the “one AI driven mass shooting every four years” world for example it’s fair to call it a rare issue. The environmental impact seems either very overblown (e.g., water usage just isn’t that high) and the part that isn’t overblown is totally abatable (e.g., noise and emissions from gas generators). Nuclear or solar/renewables with batteries wouldn’t pollute. I’ve seen no estimates of the additional deaths due to extra emissions specifically from power generation for AI purposes. If you have some, share them. I’m willing to bet that they are a small rounding error against preventable deaths due to emissions from transport and non-AI-related power generation (which is an important and urgent issue worth spending a lot on, to be clear!). I’m happy to update that belief given evidence.

waterTanuki 8d ago
Ok, so what is the exact number of preventable deaths per year to build a silicon god you would be ok with?
- beezlewax 8d ago
  I don't disagree with your statement but you could insert other technological advancenents like railroads or metros or spacecraft in place of Ai here.
- wallst07 8d ago
  Humans take risk adjusted decisions all the time, OP is still correct that LLM risk is FAR below all the ones we know and accept today. Death by Cars, Cancer, Heart disease etc...

elonfboy 8d ago

Mass shootings are sensational but on the scale of civilizational risk they don’t even compare to something like climate change.

wallst07 8d ago

So the crazy who committed a horrible crime is the fault of a LLM? Maybe so. Certainly there should be some protocols/laws followed here, but do you think this can extend out to cause mass damage or a singular event that should be investigated?