Rick Wilson

AI position

Aware of x-risk

He hosted MIRI executive director Nate Soares (co-author of "If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies") for a full episode explicitly framed around AGI extinction risk, and separately wrote about AI's persuasive dangers to democracy, but x-risk is not a recurring theme across his broader output, which is dominated by campaign/election commentary.

Why influential

Combines media reach with organizing infrastructure, allowing commentary to mobilize volunteers, donors and ideological networks. Primary policy lanes: elections; republican strategy; advertising; democracy.

Who pays attention

Institutional Republicans, anti-Trump conservatives, Democratic strategists, donors and democracy-focused professionals

Work samples

• AI: The New Nuclear Option (with Nate Soares)

  Nov 4, 2025 · podcast

  Lincoln Project podcast episode devoted entirely to AGI extinction risk with MIRI's executive director.

• The Rise Of AI Politics

  Jun 1, 2025 · newsletter

  Substack piece on AI's persuasive power in political campaigns, citing Anthropic and Stanford research.

• Will the Real Rick Wilson Please Stand Up?

  Jan 1, 2025 · article

  On AI deepfakes impersonating him, including Sora-generated fakes.

• Deepfakeable Me

  Mar 1, 2025 · newsletter

  Personal essay on being targeted by AI deepfake channels.

• AI Apocalypse (with Daniel Faggella)

  Apr 10, 2024 · podcast

  Enemies List podcast episode on AGI timelines and societal impact with AI ethicist Daniel Faggella.

AI-world contactsunprocessed

• Nate Soares — President / AI safety researcher, Machine Intelligence Research Institute

  • Wrote aboutdirectness unclassified — Hosted for a full Lincoln Project podcast episode on AGI existential risk; co-author with Eliezer Yudkowsky of 'If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies.'

• Daniel Faggella — Founder/AI ethicist and futurist, Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research

  • Wrote aboutdirectness unclassified — Guest on Wilson's 'Enemies List' podcast episode 'AI Apocalypse' discussing AGI timelines and societal impact.