When the World Ends you Will Regret Not filling out that Contact Us Form

Grendel1209, a self-described 'spiteful' person motivated by anxiety over AI existential risk, shares a step-by-step guide for non-technical individuals to have a real impact on AI policy. They argue that while most people lack the skills to work on alignment directly, meeting with policymakers is a high-leverage activity. Their own efforts led to briefing Senate Commerce Committee staff drafting an AI bill, a direct meeting with their congressional representative (who changed her stance from 'middle of the road' to rethinking risks), and an introduction to a senior U.S. senator.

The guide's core tips include: just do it—don't overthink or delay; aim high but don't discount staffers; be credible by dressing professionally and establishing expertise (even if it's just tech experience); and don't assume policymakers understand AI—start with simple narratives about rapid progress and risks from bad actors. They also suggest starting with state representatives if federal access is hard. The post emphasizes that anxiety is pointless unless it leads to action, and that even a small time investment can yield significant influence.