Can a Board Game Save Us From AI Doom?

A 24-year-old with a background in design and communication, not math or coding, is creating something unusual: a massive 60-player live game. It's designed to let ordinary people step into the shoes of world leaders and AI company bosses. The goal is to help non-experts feel the real pressure of managing artificial intelligence safely. He worries humanity might not survive until he's 40, and he wants to do something about it.

This game combines military-style wargaming with popular mega-games, like giant team simulations. Most AI wargames are private and hard to access, so he wants to make one anyone can play. He even received a grant from an AI safety organization. But during a casual breakfast, another researcher gently questioned whether this project has any real value. That doubt made him second-guess his plan.

The honest question is: does teaching people through a game actually reduce existential risk? His hope is that some thoughtful player will later pursue serious AI safety work. He calls this "good propaganda." But there's no proof it works. The author knows his motives are mixed: part altruism, part fear, part desire to contribute something meaningful.

In the end, this reflects a deep human struggle. When the stakes are civilization-sized, what personal actions count as worthwhile? The author's story shows that even small, creative efforts to raise awareness are fraught with uncertainty. But he also points out that everyone was once new to this topic. Maybe being a bridge for other newcomers is exactly what AI safety needs.