The justification would go something like this: we have a better chance of coexisting with artificial intelligence if we spread out and colonize other planets, that way we aren’t competing as intensely for the same resources.
In the past it was made by Steven Hawking, more recently it was made in a Acta Astonautica.
Resolves YES if any lawmakers put forward a proposal to fund space exploration based on the threat from AI before the end of 2026. Does not have to pass or be voted on even, but needs to be formally presented to a governing body (ie a random comment from a politician in the media doesn’t count).
1,000
3.00Update: we've seen something close:
“Illinois is already an international hub of research and technology, and our state is ideally positioned for greater investment, innovation, and job creation,” U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said. “I’m pleased to see NSF investing in our state with this new AI Institute for the Sky, helping deepen the scientific research and understanding of astronomy and astrophysics. Our state is making it clear that we are ready to compete and have the innovation and talent right here to bring our state, nation, and world into the future.”
A US Senator is commenting favorably on a federal grant for AI space exploration, but not because of the threat of AI.
https://news.uchicago.edu/story/nsf-simons-foundation-launch-20-million-national-ai-research-institute-astronomy