While I don’t think it will ever go far enough, many countries forbid certain kinds of technology, science, and experiments. For example, I cannot imagine any country allowing an experiment where an ape is mated with a human.

But scientists often find it impossible to resist at least trying something, regardless of ethical or moral qualms.

Soon we might see restrictions on AI implementation, especially if it is enforced by chipmakers, who can build safeguards into the chip itself, like auto-off-switches, speed-limits or other governors.

Then what is an AI researcher meant to do if that ends their particular angle they have spent a decade working on? Enter the rogue entity with a lot of cash. It could simply be Elon Musk, or China, but it will be masked behind nested shell companies.

Here’s how it works… experts in various fields like AI, weapons tech, disease research, and genetics are approached while their research is still allowed. They are given a few details, except that there will be a place for them if they ever want to go rogue, and the funding will be immense.

When the time comes, each of them is approached. They are offered a relocation to a foreign land – typically not the same physical location as their research counterparts – although existing teams could be kept together. They know nothing about who funds them, but they will be very well looked after, and normal spycraft will be utilised, like blackmail potential.

They work remotely from their handler, who they only communicate with online and anonymously. That handler looks after the sharing of data and ideas between disparate groups.

It could already exist… If they are good, we will never know.