International Protest October 21st 2023

We're going to do a larger, global protest Saturday October 21st. There will also be a UK protest during the Summit (Nov 1).

I've put a bunch of names here below of people who I expect to be open to helping out. Question mark indicates it's unconfirmed. Let me know if you want to organize a local protest!

Locations

Netherlands, Den Haag: @Joep Meindertsma
- @Ruben D
US, SF Bay Area: @Holly Elmore
- Tyler (?) + @James Rocker (?)
Canada, Ottowa: Matias Raski
UK, London: @Joseph Miller
- @Alistair Stewart
Australia, melbourne: @Michael
Germany, Berlin: @Merikles (wants to help) @Unknown user (?) @Niki Drozdowski (?) @Dan
Israel, Jerusalem: @Davidmanheim
Denmark @Søren Elverlin
Your country here?

## Strategy

One Web Page + Press Release @Joep Meindertsma
One Video afterwards @Niki Drozdowski (?)

## What organizers need to do

Set up Invite / Registration tool (organizers pick their tool, linked from the webpage) e.g. EventBrite, Partiful, Facebook, Google Forms
Get people to come (contact with EA groups, AI safety groups, be annoying to friends, stay in touch during the weeks before the protest)
Work on local guerilla ads (e.g. stickers with PauseAI logo + QR code)
Pick a suitable location + time
Get a permit to protest (weeks in advancce)
Get in touch with journalists (make sure at least one will be on location, reach out to a person not an inbox! Cultivate a relationship early on)
Make signage. If there are costs, we can probably cover them. It's fun to do this together
Pick a location for drinks afterwards
Get someone (or multiple people) to give a short speech
Print flyers

## Who's responsible

@Holly Elmore is working on an Asana sheet with todos

Hhurt-tomato We're going to do a larger, global protest **Saturday October 21st**. There will...

full-green•8/15/23, 8:17 PM

You sure you want to do that on a Saturday tho? What's the motivation or reasoning behind that?

Ffull-green You sure you want to do that on a Saturday tho? What's the motivation or reasoni...

hurt-tomatoOP•8/15/23, 8:44 PM

You suggested doing it in the weekend right? So more people could joint because of work?

But Sunday seems fine, too. Often a bit less people in city centres though.

Hhurt-tomato You suggested doing it in the weekend right? So more people could joint because ...

full-green•8/15/23, 9:05 PM

Ah, did I? Can't remember. I'd say to aim for a Thursday or Friday, so we'll meet more folks on the streets, media may pay more attention, and we may get a politician or two in for a speech/discussion.

hurt-tomatoOP•8/15/23, 9:05 PM

I'm probably confused about who said it then, whoops! Friday also fine by me

moderate-tomato•8/15/23, 10:59 PM

Early November could work well

The UK’s AI safety global summit has the target of early November

https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-pm-rishi-sunak-promise-big-ai-summit-but-running-out-of-time/amp/

POLITICO

Rishi Sunak promised big on his AI summit. He’s running out of time...

Despite the appointment of two special representatives on Thursday, the world’s ‘first major global summit on AI safety’ is still missing a date and an invite list.

hurt-tomatoOP•8/16/23, 1:50 PM

tried stable diffusion to generate a background

Ffull-green Ah, did I? Can't remember. I'd say to aim for a Thursday or Friday, so we'll mee...

worthy-azure•8/17/23, 12:57 AM

Yeah I've been really torn about day of the week and people in-the-know do recommend weekdays, but I'm concerned that fewer people will come on a weekday. What info could we get that would decide this?

Hhurt-tomato tried stable diffusion to generate a background

worthy-azure•8/17/23, 12:57 AM

Ooo I like subtle cues that there will be a big crowd you won't stand out it!

moderate-tomato•8/17/23, 1:53 AM

The venue could be Bletchley Park:

https://www.ft.com/content/1d3043db-b68d-496e-8fda-4654f8af15bc

UK to host AI safety summit at start of November | Financial Times

‘Like-minded’ states to be asked to Bletchley Park along with tech executives and academics

worthy-azure•8/17/23, 7:04 AM

Does the protest need to be near the summit? I suspect it doesn't matter that much, and doing it in central London works fine.

worthy-azure•8/17/23, 7:06 AM

And for timing, Friday afternoon might make sense? My thought is that if you do it at 3 PM or something, people can leave work early, and you can have more of a "chill out and start your weekend early at the protest" vibe.

hurt-tomatoOP•8/17/23, 5:05 PM

@Holly Elmore will set up an Asana of todo's for local organizers! Good stuff

urgent-maroon•8/18/23, 8:08 AM

I'd offer to help with organizing an event in Germany, and also spread the news, but I don't want to take on the responsibility of being the main organizer at the moment. Feel free to reach out to me.

Hhurt-tomato tried stable diffusion to generate a background

endless-jade•8/19/23, 5:49 PM

I'm not sure it's a good idea to use an AI generated image with the PauseAI messages. I'm not against AI generated images myself, but it will come across as contradictory for most people. And we might want to form coalitions with ex. Artists who are against AI in case it serves both our goals.

Eendless-jade I'm not sure it's a good idea to use an AI generated image with the PauseAI mess...

hurt-tomatoOP•8/19/23, 5:50 PM

Good point, I think I agree.

endless-jade•8/19/23, 5:55 PM

When there's a date I'm happy to look for someone who wants to organize it in Brussels. If I can't find anyone there's about a 25% chance I'll do it myself, not sure yet.

endless-jade•8/19/23, 5:55 PM

Did you reach out to Stijn too?

hurt-tomatoOP•8/19/23, 5:56 PM

Not yet!

full-green•8/20/23, 12:27 PM

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvAdJPZIJJH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Shoggoth inflatable hanging from the Dutch ministery of domestic affairs when

novusarte

Release the Kraken!

Installation by @filthyluker

The century-old Kalanjee Bungalow in Mumbai has now been transformed to the first gallery dedicated to showcasing urban contemporary and post-graffiti art.

Shot by @farazhatesyou for @xxl.gallery

#kraken #streetart #urbanart #graffitiart #inflatableart #artinstallationart #novusarte

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wet-aqua•8/20/23, 5:15 PM

I don't have experience organizing one, but if there is a way for me to join one, I will

technical-ivory•8/21/23, 9:15 AM

I'd like to join you if I have time.

Hhurt-tomato tried stable diffusion to generate a background

full-green•8/21/23, 12:47 PM

Haha, don't know if we want to oversell it like that

Wworthy-azure Yeah I've been really torn about day of the week and people in-the-know do recom...

full-green•8/21/23, 12:49 PM

Why do people in the know recommend weekdays? Is that when journalists are more active?

Ffull-green Ah, did I? Can't remember. I'd say to aim for a Thursday or Friday, so we'll mee...

full-green•8/21/23, 12:50 PM

I don't know how relevant the number of people on the street is - what matters is either people at an institution being protested or the media.

Ffull-green I don't know how relevant the number of people on the street is - what matters i...

full-green•8/21/23, 12:59 PM

The protest itself is most important of course, but if it doesn't attract any further attention on the streets, it may be unlikely media will pay much attention, either.

wet-aqua•8/21/23, 9:30 PM

I think just the presence of one will draw media attention

Wwet-aqua I think just the presence of one will draw media attention

full-green•8/22/23, 12:50 PM

That may be too optimistic. The previous ones did not draw much attention beyond @Joep Meindertsma's efforts, as far as I can tell.

full-green•8/22/23, 12:53 PM

Speaking from my own experience at newsrooms and from the info I got from news brokers, any protest that manages to gather less than 300 people usually does not really generate any headlines by itself. So unless the protests stands out because of other factors, or we have a pretty solid press release campaign and give an original twist to an otherwise "normal" kind of protest, it is likely not much will happen.

awake-maroon•8/23/23, 3:49 PM

Really cool to have a big international protest on a single day! I think we should take care that's it's optimally placed before the summit! You want protest -> media -> summit decision making, right?

awake-maroon•8/23/23, 3:50 PM

I think the date will be crucial, and of course the traction that can be generated. But great idea!

hurt-tomatoOP•8/24/23, 7:47 AM

Summit will be 1-2 nov, so we need to reschedule protest. Either we to it during the summit, or perhaps the week before it. What do you think?

to do 1-2 nov (weekday)
monkaS

to do it earlier (friday before? Eerlier?)

skinny-azure•8/24/23, 10:51 AM

I mentioned doing it in the weekend instead, to include people that would want to come but not take a day off. I was thinking that if we are not targeting a place where we want employees to see us, like openai, and mainly focus on passers-by's then why not in the weekend? Leave work early on friday sounds nice but only if you happen to work close by.

Hhurt-tomato Summit will be 1-2 nov, so we need to reschedule protest. Either we to it during...

skinny-azure•8/24/23, 10:53 AM

Week before makes mote sense to me to have a chance of influencing the decision makers

worthy-azure•8/24/23, 3:17 PM

Okay so I guess we have to move our thing up to October 27… imo we’ll get more attention if we do our thing first, although maybe someone should also be present at the event itself.

Also based on this trailer I think “Safety FIRST” would be a good message.

https://x.com/scitechgovuk/status/1694590623012024522?s=46

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (@SciTechgovuk)

On 1-2 November 2023, governments, AI companies and experts from around the work will meet at @BletchleyPark for crucial talks on the safe and responsible development of AI.

AI has the potential to revolutionise the way we live, but we must also minimise its risks.

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•

8/24/23, 6:01 AM

Wworthy-azure Okay so I guess we have to move our thing up to October 27… imo we’ll get more a...

wet-aqua•8/24/23, 5:18 PM

Do you mean saturday the 28th?

worthy-azure•8/24/23, 6:19 PM

Actually now I'm thinking it would be best to do Saturday the 21st so that new coverage could have time to affect the agenda

worthy-azure•8/24/23, 6:19 PM

And I think the slogan is "AI Safety FIRST at the AI Safety Summit"

hurt-tomatoOP•8/25/23, 1:07 PM

@Joseph Miller and I just discussed dates.

We were also thinking saturday, but perhaps the 28th. Journalists will still have a couple of days to cover it right before the summit. We can share pictures and stories on twitter the day before the summit and do another e-mail campaign, reaching out to attendees / member state representatives.

hurt-tomatoOP•8/25/23, 1:10 PM

@Holly Elmore what do you think?

worthy-azure•8/25/23, 5:40 PM

I think it would be better to give the summit organizers some time to respond

worthy-azure•8/25/23, 5:40 PM

And I would do a smaller thing at at EAG Boston on the 28th— maybe there could be smaller follow ups

Wworthy-azure I think it would be better to give the summit organizers some time to respond

hurt-tomatoOP•8/25/23, 6:11 PM

Not sure I understand this. Summit organizers are deep in planning already, don't think we can make them make changes even weeks before. Attendees, maybe.

I'm a bit concerned if we do it 10days before it's too long of a gap for journalists to report

hurt-tomatoOP•8/27/23, 4:08 PM

Next wednesday at 18:00CET, @Charlie Harrison will present "Go Mobilise: Lessons from the GM crop protests for pausing AI" during the PauseAI meeting!

He has been working on this project on AI & activism for the last couple months with the Existential Risk Alliance, and wants to share some learnings.

During this meeting, we'll also pick a date for the international pre-summit protest, and get things rolling

Hhurt-tomato Next wednesday at 18:00CET, <@614210450284085258>arrison will present "Go Mobili...

slow-yellow•8/27/23, 9:03 PM

Looking forward!!

Hhurt-tomato Next wednesday at 18:00CET, <@614210450284085258>arrison will present "Go Mobili...

hurt-tomatoOP•8/28/23, 6:41 AM

@Holly Elmore @Davidmanheim @Alistair Stewart @Joseph Miller @Unknown user @James Rocker @Ruben D @Merikles

I think you'd also be interested in this!

Hhurt-tomato Not sure I understand this. Summit organizers are deep in planning already, don'...

worthy-azure•8/28/23, 6:42 PM

I really don't know about this and I have a feeling that giving the attendees some time to think about this and maybe have more of a safety emphasis is better than almost catching them by surprise

moderate-tomato•8/30/23, 10:53 AM

Here are my thoughts. A pause is not going to happen, or really be seriously discussed during the Summit. But if you're going to do an International Protest, and want it to count, and want the press and those paying attention to make the connection between the call for a Pause and the Summit, then just do the protests on November 1st and 2nd. This sends a much stronger message. And have a gathering of protesters as close to Bletchley Park as possible. This will tie your story with the story of the Summit in the news. Otherwise, your story will get buried.

moderate-tomato•8/30/23, 10:55 AM

And don't make it "Safety First". This is far too weak a stance. No one at the Summit is going to say "who cares about safety?" Make it an explicit call for an international treaty on a moratorium. Make your stance the strong one.

hurt-tomatoOP•8/30/23, 5:16 PM

DATE IS CONFIRMED, OCT 21st!

hurt-tomatoOP•8/31/23, 10:54 AM

@Davidmanheim let me know that Saturdays won't work in Jerusalem, so he wants to do Sunday there. Seems OK.

International Protest October 21st 2023

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