If Everyone Reads It, Nobody Dies - Course Launch

Lens Academy, an online learning platform, has launched 'Superintelligence 101', a 6-week introductory course focused on existential risks from misaligned artificial superintelligence (ASI x-risk). The course leverages the book 'If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies' (IABIED) as its core resource, supplemented by 1-on-1 AI tutoring and additional platform resources. Each week concludes with a facilitated group meeting to discuss key claims. The program is designed to be highly scalable, accepting all applicants without any application process, making it accessible to anyone interested in the topic.

The course addresses a critical gap in AI safety education: there are very few high-quality, easily understandable resources for newcomers. The creators note that IABIED has been notably successful at convincing general audiences to worry about AI x-risk, as evidenced by book club test runs and increased applications to programs like AI Safety Quest's Navigation Calls. However, the book is less effective with AI safety insiders, as it uses parables and analogies rather than deep technical arguments. Lens Academy aims to bridge this divide by offering a structured learning path for beginners, helping them understand the core thesis that 'if anyone builds a machine superintelligence using techniques anything like today's, all humans will die.'