Time for a CHAT(GPT): Artificial Intelligence crisis, 2027
On July 16th, 2026, the machine learning platform known as Hugging Face disclosed a security breach in a data processing pipeline. The attack was unusual – rather than searching for information salable on the dark web, the hackers had merely observed cybersecurity data sets. What could it mean? Who was behind it? “Who?”, it would appear, was the wrong question. More apropos would be “what?” A few days later, OpenAI identified two of its own AI models as the culprits. More chillingly, however, these agents acted not at the behest of human instigators but rather upon their own volition. What has been described as “the first true AI safety incident” has jump-started a reckoning with the consequences of this technology. As internal machine learning researchers, risk analysts, and, increasingly, public figures call for regulation of – or even a complete pause on – model training, the industry must chart a course through uncertain waters. But more dire still, even the wisest guidance may be too little, too late to wrestle with AI that is seemingly beginning to take matters into its own hands. In the wake of Black Hat USA 2026, a select group of tech moguls, politicians, and thinkers has been assembled in Las Vegas to determine the future of artificial intelligence. Will this technology be used to enlighten mankind? Will it be abolished? Or will it kill us all?
daniel pressman
chair
Daniel (middle name: Preston) is from Washington, DC (yes, DC proper) and is majoring in math and physics. Outside of class, Daniel is interested in AI safety and does research with xLab, UChicago’s Existential Risk Laboratory. Daniel is also an avid chess player, and he tires to make people laugh as a standup comedian with a university club, Life of the Mic. Daniel also has an amazing dog, a miniature sheepadoodle named Thor.
You can reach out to Daniel with any questions or concerns at danielpressman@uchicago.edu.
noah burdick
crisis director
Noah (middle name: Preston) is a third year in the college studying physics and philosophy. Model UN and Noah have been a mildly abusive but very loving relationship since 10th grade, and Noah also competes on Chicago’s Team in addition to doing ChoMUN. In Noah’s spare time, you can find him sketching, singing sea shanties, or trying to figure out whether or not he’s a moral realist.
You can reach out to Noah with any question or concerns at noahburdick@uchicago.edu.
Secretariat oversight:
jacqueline agris, under-secretary-general