Editorial illustration for Secret meeting sees 94% approve even least‑popular AI resistance stance
AI Resistance Policy: 94% Agree on Landmark Strategy
Secret meeting sees 94% approve even least‑popular AI resistance stance
A closed‑door gathering of policymakers, technologists and civil‑society groups convened last month in an undisclosed venue, aiming to map a coordinated response to what participants called “AI political resistance.” The agenda centered on a draft Declaration that listed ten possible stances—from outright bans on certain models to nuanced oversight frameworks. While most items enjoyed near‑universal backing, one clause lingered at the bottom of the internal poll, drawing the fewest votes of any proposal. Yet, when the final tally was taken, that same clause cleared the threshold, earning approval from 94 percent of those present.
The paradox sparked a lively debate among attendees, who argued that even the most contentious measures could muster overwhelming consensus when framed as a safeguard against hidden harms. It’s this tension—between a seemingly unpopular position and its near‑unanimous endorsement—that sets the stage for the following remark, which captures the group’s underlying logic.
(The least popular position in the Declaration still got approved by 94% of attendees.) "I think about it like, if there's knowledge that there's poison in the water supply, or that drugs are flooding schools -- anything like that, in general -- most people are going to be against it and it isn't partisan," he said. AI was slightly trickier in that people's general opinion about specific AI models divided along party lines -- Grok was the "based" AI and Anthropic was the "woke" AI -- but to Allen, the distinction was meaningless. "Like, what does 'based' and 'woke' even mean at this point?" "'We will not have the luxury of debating all of those other issues if we don't get this thing right.
So let's get this thing right.'" Nearly a decade ago, FLI had laid out a more optimistic set of principles for AI research -- 23 principles, to be exact, written during the 2017 Asilomar Conference for Beneficial AI, which drew over 100 tech luminaries of the day. Signatories and endorsers of the Asilomar AI Principles included AI leaders like Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Demis Hannabis; luminaries like Stephen Hawking and Ray Kurzweil, and representatives from major companies like Google, Intel and Apple.
What does a 94 percent vote mean when the stance was the least popular on the declaration? It shows that even the most contentious wording can garner near‑unanimous support among a group that spanned church leaders, conservative scholars, labor union reps and progressive operatives. The meeting, held in early January at a New Orleans Marriott, was described as “secret” enough that attendees only learned who else was invited once they entered the room.
That surprise element may have helped break down usual partisan barriers, yet the article offers no detail on how the consensus will translate into policy or action. The quoted analogy—poison in the water supply or drugs flooding schools—suggests participants view the AI issue as a public‑health threat that most people would oppose. Whether this framing will drive concrete measures remains unclear.
The report stops short of outlining any follow‑up steps, leaving readers to wonder how this eclectic coalition plans to move beyond a single vote toward tangible outcomes.
Further Reading
- How safe is the future of dual-use defense- opinion - Jerusalem Post
- 2025 Programming - NSF AI Institute for Societal Decision Making - Carnegie Mellon University
- Why 95% of Corporate AI Projects Fail: Lessons from MIT's 2025 Study - Complex Discovery
- Insights from the 2025 Space+AI Summit - Booz Allen - Booz Allen Hamilton
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Common Questions Answered
What was the key outcome of the secret AI policy meeting in New Orleans?
The meeting resulted in a draft Declaration with ten potential AI resistance stances, where even the least popular position received 94% approval from attendees. This near-unanimous support demonstrated remarkable consensus across diverse groups including church leaders, conservative scholars, labor union representatives, and progressive operatives.
How did the meeting's participants view political divisions around AI technologies?
Participants noted that AI opinions often divided along partisan lines, with some AI models like Grok perceived as 'based' and others like Anthropic seen as 'woke'. Despite these potential divisions, the meeting showed a strong unified approach to addressing potential AI risks.
Why was the meeting's venue and invitation process described as 'secret'?
The meeting was held at a New Orleans Marriott with an intentionally opaque invitation process, where attendees only discovered who else was present upon entering the room. This surprise element was believed to potentially help break down typical political barriers and facilitate more open dialogue.