Why a Baruch Plan for AI?

In 1946, facing nuclear annihilation, the United States proposed something radical: place all nuclear weapons, research, and facilities worldwide under a single international authority.

The Baruch Plan (Wikipedia) called for an International Atomic Development Authority with genuine enforcement power—and crucially, no veto rights for any nation.

The intellectual groundwork came from the Acheson-Lilienthal Report, largely written by Oppenheimer and the deputy secretary of state and other key advisors, which convinced President Truman that unilateral action couldn't counter proliferation risks.

The plan ultimately failed. The Soviets counter-proposed the Gromyko Plan, and despite support from Einstein and Russell and many others, no middle ground was reached. What followed was an arms race, near-miss disasters, and a global surveillance apparatus that has—so far—barely averted catastrophe.

Support for the Idea

A University of Maryland survey found 77% of US voters support a strong, bold and comprehensive international AI treaty, akin to the Baruch Plan. Hundreds of experts signed the AITreaty.org open letter last spring.

Renowned AI experts have referred for the Baruch Plan as a model for the global goverannce of AI including Yoshua Bengio (most-cited AI scientist), Ian Hogarth (UK AI Safety Institute), Jack Clark (Anthropic) and Jaan Tallinn (Future of Life Institute)

AI Labs' Calls for Democratic Global Governance have grown over the past 24 months—from the CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind.

We have a second chance. ChatGPT launched a winner-takes-all race among superpowers—the same dynamic that followed Hiroshima. Today, as in 1946, the US holds a temporary lead but cannot control global AI supply chains. And as in 1946, immense risks may compel even great powers to consider ambitious global governance.

The parallels are striking. A reckless race forcing underinvestment in safety. Consensus building among scientists, agencies, and heads of state. A narrow window before capabilities spiral beyond control

AI Labs' Calls for Democratic Global Governance have grown over the past 24 months—from the CEOs of Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind.

But the Baruch Plan failed, what can we learn from its failure for a Baruch Plan for AI?