The Role of Tin in the AI Era

The intersection of AI infrastructure and critical minerals is one of the most underappreciated risk vectors in the current technology cycle. While attention fixates on compute density, energy, and cooling, the physical foundation—built from prosaic metals—is facing a material mismatch. Tin has spent most of its modern life in the background—a dull, silvery metal used … Read more

Thinking Out Loud: What I Need, What We Lack, What We Must Build

Here’s what I’m wrestling with—and why it matters beyond AI policy circles: In early July 2026, I asked thirteen frontier AI models two structured questions. The first was simple: is the world prepared for artificial general intelligence (systems that could match or surpass humans across many tasks) across six dimensions—technical infrastructure, regulation, safety and alignment … Read more

Two Polls, One Diagnosis

The AGI Poll Conjunction In early July 2026, I asked thirteen frontier models two blunt questions about AGI. On July 6, I asked whether the world is prepared for AGI across six areas: technical infrastructure, regulation, safety and alignment, economic readiness, public awareness, and international cooperation. Every model said no. On July 7, I asked … Read more

What Should Fill the Pause: What 13 Models Actually Said When Asked

Key Takeaways: Methodology In a follow-up to my earlier essay on pausing AGI development, I asked the same 13 frontier models a different, deliberately open-ended question: assuming a real pause, what should the freed capital, compute, and talent be redirected toward? The full prompt is below: Assume, for the purposes of this question only, that … Read more

The Great AGI Pause Poll Results 07072026

Prompt: Responses: Gemini 3.1 Pro 2:47 PM 1. Top Three Priorities for Redirection Priority 1: High-Fidelity Biological Simulation and Accelerated Therapeutics The redirected resources should first be concentrated on mapping, simulating, and engineering biological systems from the molecular level up to full cellular organisms. Priority 2: Combinatorial Material Science for Clean Energy and Carbon Capture … Read more