You can't have a doomsday device without planning for doomsday, can you? That's what MAIM aims to achieve.

Deterrence through Mutual Assured AI Malfunction (MAIM) draws a parallel to the Cold War’s concept of mutual assured destruction, applying it to the realm of advanced artificial intelligence. The core idea is that states maintain a balance of vulnerabilities in their AI capabilities, ensuring that any attempt to monopolize or aggressively advance destabilizing AI projects risks reciprocal sabotage or malfunction. This delicate equilibrium discourages reckless escalation by making the costs of offensive actions prohibitively high, thereby preserving global stability.

To sustain this regime, states must deliberately safeguard mutual vulnerabilities and avoid pursuing defensive measures that could upset the balance, much like the nuclear arms control agreements that limited anti-ballistic missile systems. Transparency plays a crucial role: by distinguishing between destabilizing AI projects and acceptable uses, states can reduce misunderstandings and avoid unnecessary attacks on benign AI services. AI-assisted inspections offer a promising path to verify compliance confidentially, enabling trust without compromising proprietary or classified information.

Preserving rational decision-making is essential. Clear communication about the escalation ladder—from espionage and covert cyberattacks to overt sabotage and potential kinetic strikes—helps prevent misinterpretations that could trigger unintended conflict. Restricting destabilizing AI capabilities to responsible actors further strengthens deterrence, as rogue regimes or extremist groups could undermine the entire system.

Expanding the arsenal of cyberattacks targeting AI projects allows states to disable threats without resorting to kinetic warfare, minimizing collateral damage and diplomatic fallout. Additionally, situating large AI datacenters in remote locations reduces risks to civilian populations in case of conflict.

Ultimately, MAIM is not a permanent stalemate but a managed standoff encouraging transparency and verification. This framework aims to harness AI’s benefits while preventing global destabilization, ensuring that competition in AI development remains controlled and that the threat of mutual malfunction deters catastrophic escalation.