This research explores a critical but often overlooked aspect of AI safety - how malevolent human leaders might misuse advanced artificial intelligence systems. As AI capabilities grow more powerful, the potential consequences of such misuse could be catastrophic, making this an urgent area of study.

The Human Factor in AI Safety

Most AI safety research focuses on technical alignment challenges, but human governance plays an equally important role. The project would examine the intersection of psychological research on malevolent personality traits (like psychopathy and narcissism) with political leadership and AI control. One key question is whether our current systems for selecting leaders adequately screen for these dangerous traits, particularly as the stakes grow higher with increasingly powerful AI.

The research would explore three main areas:

• How common malevolent traits are among current and historical leaders
• Whether the public can reliably detect these traits in candidates
• What institutional safeguards could prevent malevolent actors from gaining control of powerful AI systems

From Research to Real-World Impact

This work could lead to practical solutions by taking an interdisciplinary approach. For example, existing political vetting processes might be enhanced with psychological screening tools. Governance frameworks for advanced AI systems could incorporate checks and balances similar to nuclear launch protocols. The research would also explore how to design AI systems themselves to be more resistant to misuse by bad actors.

A minimal viable product for this research might begin with:

1. A comprehensive review of historical cases where malevolent leaders controlled dangerous technologies
2. Public perception studies about what traits people tolerate in leaders
3. Initial modeling of how different governance structures might perform at preventing AI misuse

Why This Matters Now

While malevolent leaders have existed throughout history, two factors make this particularly urgent: AI capabilities are advancing rapidly, and there's little research connecting these psychological factors to AI governance challenges. Understanding these dynamics could help design better institutions and technologies before we face catastrophic scenarios. The research would fill a gap between political psychology studies (which rarely consider technological implications) and AI safety research (which often overlooks human governance factors).

By systematically studying these questions, this research could help build more robust protections against one of the most concerning scenarios for AI's future.