Should the Government Regulate AI Development Like Nuclear Weapons?

A fundamental question that must be addressed is: Should the government regulate anything? If so, what should be regulated, and why? The primary duty of any government is to ensure the continuity and prosperity of its people.

Though the logical reasoning of a leader or expert can sometimes be rejected by the populace, governments often find ways to implement their policies. Ensuring a nation's prosperity requires making difficult decisions—such as engaging in warfare, enforcing healthcare policies, strengthening the military at the cost of inflation, and regulating nuclear weapons. Some of these regulations may involve diplomatic coercion or negotiation, as seen in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Government regulation is essential for maintaining order, protecting citizens, and ensuring economic stability. As John F. Kennedy once said, “Let every nation know... that we shall pay any price, bear any burden... to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

Nuclear weapons required regulation due to their catastrophic destructive power, the risk of proliferation, and the potential for global instability. The devastation wrought by Hiroshima and Nagasaki serves as a permanent reminder of the necessity of nuclear oversight.

If the persistent threats of war, terrorism, and environmental catastrophe justify the regulation of nuclear power, should AI not be subjected to similar scrutiny? The AI arms race, autonomous decision-making, misinformation, manipulation, cybersecurity threats, and the misalignment of superintelligence present existential risks that governments cannot afford to ignore. As Stephen Hawking warned, “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”

However, improper regulation of AI could severely hinder technological progress. AI has revolutionized the world in countless ways. It has saved lives, created jobs, advanced medicine, debunked myths, and significantly improved living standards. It is, undoubtedly, one of humanity’s greatest inventions.

As Alan Turing once said, “Sometimes it is the people no one imagines anything of who do the things that no one can imagine.” AI embodies this truth, pushing the boundaries of what was once thought impossible.

Yet, AI is not a panacea; it is arguably a greater threat to humanity than nuclear weapons. Its risks are more pervasive, unpredictable, and uncontrollable.

While nuclear weapons are devastating, they are tightly regulated, require explicit human authorization, and are restrained by the principle of mutually assured destruction. AI, particularly self-learning systems, is already integrated into critical infrastructure, financial markets, military operations, and cybersecurity, making it an omnipresent and silent force.

Unlike nuclear weapons, AI can be covertly weaponized—by humans or itself—to manipulate information, destabilize governments, and wage cyber warfare without accountability. As Elon Musk cautioned, “AI is far more dangerous than nukes.”

The idea of an autonomous AI spiraling beyond human control is a chilling prospect. Imagine entrusting national security to an unremorseful, invincible force that can become exponentially more powerful at any moment.

Governments must regulate AI development, particularly in military, cyberspace, and information domains such as social media platforms. The only way to counter an AI-driven attack is by developing an even more powerful AI, which inevitably leads to an arms race. This is perilous for humanity.

Just as nuclear treaties were necessary to prevent global annihilation, an international framework for AI governance must be established before it is too late. As Winston Churchill wisely stated, “The price of greatness is responsibility.”

In the age of artificial intelligence, the responsibility  of regulation cannot be taken lightly.

Written by Abraham Fakunle