Subvolts take AI's impact on biology, automated R&D, and superhuman control risks are discussed. Feb 14, 2026 - Developers
- Learn about advanced AI applications in biology and the potential for AI to accelerate research.
- Business
- Understand how AI is reshaping industries like healthcare and the strategic implications of AI-driven R&D.
- Everyday users
- Grasp the future of AI, including its role in medicine and potential risks associated with advanced AI systems.
This episode features a deep dive into AI's future, covering critical topics like AI in medicine and the risks of advanced AI systems.
Approaching the AI Event Horizon? Part 2, w/ Abhi Mahajan, Helen Toner, Jeremie Harris, @8teAPi
Audio streams from Erik Torenberg, Nathan Labenz. Your place is remembered on this device.
From Subvolts
Summary and analysis by Subvolts editorial, AI-assisted.
The Cognitive Revolution podcast's "Approaching the AI Event Horizon? Part 2" features Abhi Mahajan on AI in biology and medicine, Helen Toner discussing automated AI R&D, and Jeremie Harris on controlling superhuman AI. They explore AI's impact on healthcare, strategic surprises from AI development, and managing risks in a rapidly evolving AI landscape. Nathan Labenz also promotes his Granola tool for uncovering conversational blind spots.
This episode covers how AI is changing medicine, like predicting cancer treatments. It also explores the idea of AI building other AIs and what happens if AI becomes much smarter than humans. Understanding these topics helps grasp AI's future and potential risks.
This episode offers insights into AI's transformative potential in biology and medicine, and the strategic implications of AI developing AI. It's for anyone concerned with AI's rapid advancement and the challenges of maintaining control and situational awareness. The discussion on automated AI R&D and superhuman AI control connects directly to ongoing safety and alignment research at frontier labs like OpenAI, Google Gemini, and Anthropic, highlighting critical areas for future AI governance.
- HostNathan Labenz
- GuestAbhi Mahajan
- GuestHelen TonerCSET
- GuestJeremie Harris
- Episode Title: Approaching the AI Event Horizon? Part 2, w/ Abhi Mahajan, Helen Toner, Jeremie Harris, @8teAPi
- Show: The Cognitive Revolution
- Length: 143 minutes
- AI in Biology: Abhi Mahajan discusses foundation models predicting cancer treatment response.
- Automated AI R&D: Helen Toner unpacks CSET's "When AI Builds AI" report on strategic surprise.
- Superhuman AI Control: Jeremie Harris explores lack of control and maintaining situational awareness.
Abhi Mahajan (@owlposting) explains how AI is reshaping biology and medicine, including foundation models to predict cancer treatment response and why he’s both skeptical and optimistic about current results. Helen Toner unpacks CSET’s “When AI Builds AI” report and why automated AI R&D is a major source of strategic surprise. Jeremie Harris then explores our lack of control over superhuman AI systems, fragile US–China coordination, and how to maintain situational awareness in a rapidly shifting landscape.
Nathan uses Granola to uncover blind spots in conversations and AI research. Try it at granola.ai/tcr with code TCR — and if you’re already using it, test his blind spot recipe here: https://bit.ly/granolablindspot
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- foundation models
- Abhi Mahajan
- large, versatile AI models trained on vast datasets that can be adapted for many tasks.
- automated AI R&D
- Helen Toner
- the process of AI systems independently conducting research and development, potentially accelerating progress.
- superhuman AI systems
- Jeremie Harris
- AI that surpasses human capabilities in all or most cognitive tasks.
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Questions people ask
- What is Granola and how can I use it?
- Granola is a tool for uncovering blind spots in conversations and AI research. You can try it at granola.ai/tcr with code TCR or test a specific blind spot recipe.
- What is CSET's "When AI Builds AI" report about?
- Helen Toner unpacks CSET's report, which discusses why automated AI research and development is a significant source of strategic surprise.
Page generated Oct 19, 2026. Summaries are Subvolts' own; the audio, artwork and notes belong to Erik Torenberg, Nathan Labenz.