# How to Govern AI When You Can't Predict the Future (with Charlie Bullock)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/future-of-life-institute-podcast-1112471/how-to-govern-ai-when-you-can-t-predict-the-future-with-charlie-bullock
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/future-of-life-institute-podcast-1112471/how-to-govern-ai-when-you-can-t-predict-the-future-with-charlie-bullock.md
Podcast: [Future of Life Institute Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/future-of-life-institute-podcast-1112471)
Published: 2026-05-07T16:16:46+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/188f8967
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/188f8967/88f0b05f.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/future-of-life-institute-podcast-1112471/episodes/how-to-govern-ai-when-you-can-t-predict-the-future-with-charlie-bullock
Duration seconds: 4031

## Resource

Charlie Bullock is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Law and AI. He joins the podcast to discuss radical optionality: how governments can prepare for very advanced AI without locking in premature rules. The conversation covers why law often trails technology, and how transparency, reporting, evaluations, cybersecurity standards, and expanded technical hiring could help. We also discuss private oversight, state versus federal rules, and the risk of concentrating power in companies or government. LINKS: Radical Optionality website Charlie Bullock CHAPTERS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:04) The pacing problem (06:18) Defining radical optionality (11:03) Assumptions under uncertainty (16:00) Industry convenience concerns (20:41) Political will realities (26:48) Private governance limits (30:28) Government misuse risks (36:29) Balancing institutional power (42:25) Transparency and reporting (49:35) Evaluations, security, talent (58:26) State law preemption (01:04:20) Historical nuclear analogies PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://podcast.futureoflife.org Twitter (FLI): https://x.com/FLI_org Twitter (Gus): https://x.com/gusdocker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-of-life-institute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rCCy3FQ-GItDimSR9lhzw/ Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1170991978 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Op1WO3gwVwCrYHg4eoGyP

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