Thread

1. cobbzilla · 1790940729 · focus · HN ↗

   Was this inspired by a HN comment?

   <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=49568250">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=49568250

   1. jefftk · 1790943454 · focus · HN ↗

      My guess is no: this has been a common joke in the AI safety community for a long time.

      For example, here&#x27;s Zvi in 2025: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.lesswrong.com&#x2F;posts&#x2F;drHsruvnkCYweMJp7&#x2F;the-mask-comes-off-a-trio-of-tales" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.lesswrong.com&#x2F;posts&#x2F;drHsruvnkCYweMJp7&#x2F;the-mask-c...

      1. cobbzilla · 1790944014 · focus · HN ↗

         Thanks! I wonder if this is the first reference. It’s a great analogy.

         1. ben_w · 1790952877 · focus · HN ↗

            Ages back, when I was still on Twitter, I saw the lawyer David Allen Green making the same references with regards to the British government passing laws to restrict its own behaviour.

            At least, my memory is it was him saying it, and saying it about that, but I&#x27;m not going back to that site just for a comment.

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.