RAND argues for room to change course on advanced AI
A RAND report sets out seven strategy types and five big unknowns about advanced AI. It argues against locking in one plan too early. Build skills, security checks, and institutions that can respond as the facts change.
What the source reports
A RAND expert report sets out seven broad strategy types and five major unknowns on the path to much more capable AI. The authors say an early bet on one future could leave the United States with too few options. Their preferred approach is called Freedom of Action. It calls for people and AI tools that can work together, security and ways to check claims, public bodies that can adapt, and the ability to respond to change. This is a plan for decisions under doubt, not a forecast of when very powerful AI will arrive. It is also not a test showing that the plan works. A useful next step is to name what new evidence would cause a change in course.
Original source
- Title
- A U.S. Strategy to Secure Geopolitical Advantage on an Uncertain Path to Superintelligence: Maintaining Freedom of Action
- Author
- Joel B. Predd, Benjamin Boudreaux, Matt Chessen, Beba Cibralic, Edward Geist, Kamaria Horton, Amanda Kerrigan, William Marcellino, Shanshan Mei, Jared Mondschein, Alvin Moon, Tobias Sytsma
- Publication
- RAND Corporation
- Date
- Tuesday, September 15, 2026