A field guide to AI positions

Deceleration

Publication dates and source age

Sources counted: 2

Newest dated source: 2026-04-05

At least one source was published within the 18-month window.

Assessed at this edition's evidence cutoff: 2026-09-15. 18-month boundary: 2025-03-15.

Publication age does not tell us whether a claim is still valid. Reading an old source again does not make its publication date newer. An update date does not establish that the passage we used was updated.

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In plain language

An informal label for slowing technology, often used by accelerationists to criticize their opponents. [1]

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Limits & distinctions

A targeted frontier pause, a safety rule and opposition to all technology are different positions. Do not collapse them into one camp. [2]

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A fuller explanation

Informal shorthand for slowing technological or AI development, often used critically by accelerationists about their opponents. [1]

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How it relates to the map

Describes a pace preference. It does not establish why someone wants restraint or which technologies they would slow. [1]

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https://theaiatlas.org/ideas/decel/

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Sources and what we read

  1. 1. Notes on e/acc principles and tenets

    Source is over 18 months old.

    Publication dates and source age

    Sources counted: 1

    Newest dated source: 2022-10-31

    Assessed at this edition's evidence cutoff: 2026-09-15. 18-month boundary: 2025-03-15.

    Publication age does not tell us whether a claim is still valid. Reading an old source again does not make its publication date newer. An update date does not establish that the passage we used was updated.

    Date belongs to the repost. Read as a movement's own philosophical claims, not independent scientific validation. Includes adversarial usage of decel.

  2. 2. PauseAI Proposal (April 2026 version)

    Publication dates and source age

    Sources counted: 1

    Newest dated source: 2026-04-05

    At least one source was published within the 18-month window.

    Assessed at this edition's evidence cutoff: 2026-09-15. 18-month boundary: 2025-03-15.

    Publication age does not tell us whether a claim is still valid. Reading an old source again does not make its publication date newer. An update date does not establish that the passage we used was updated.

    What we read: The April 2026 proposal, including its pause, training-approval and democratic-control conditions.

    No archived copy verified · Archive check 2026-09-15

    Read the April 5th, 2026 version, including its global pause, training approvals and democratic-control conditions. Used for the movement's published proposal and terminology; its predictions are attributed advocacy.

Edition and machine-readable evidence

Content version 0.20.0. Evidence cutoff 2026-09-15; this does not mean every source was read on that day.

Pinned complete dataset · Complete evidence page · Agent consumption guide