AI that can build itself would be a major development in the history of technology -- one that could bring enormous good for the world in science, healthcare, and beyond

Indeed!

If it were possible to effectively slow the development of this technology to give ourselves more time to deal with its immense implications, we think that would likely be a good thing

No, it would not be. I want more people's lives — my own included — improved by those developments. And I want it yesterday.

Imagine Wright brothers sabotaging airplane-development, because it would allow people to travel too far too fast? Or the early automakers fretting over "implications" of using internal combustion engines for personal vehicles — because millions of grooms and coachmen would lose their jobs?.. Electric lamp? Wow, nice — but what about the candle-makers?

Call me when it works with all phone apps and all SMS apps and all contacts apps.

I will, but will you take the call?

China? China ?? You mean the "Euros" haven't written a snappy web search engine in 25 years ? What ... were they doing ? Yeah yeah I know about Budweiser, but still ...

Hence the third sentence in my post.

They hate government meddling when they don't control government. Just like they hate government spending when they don't get to choose where the money is spent.

Correct on both counts. This is known as the concept of Government by the people. Obviously, it's a concept lost in today's world, but it's a worthy principle to work back toward.

What's a good portmanteau of gigolo and mosquito? Gigolito? I like Mosquigolo.

Nature will always find a way...

You're whining. A big data--center in a poor rural county pays 90% of all  county services/expenses for the citizen locals. That's a big deal. In a wealthy suburban country not-so-much.  You would figure that cities like Detroit, Cleveland, Scranton, Buffalo  etc would have a gig-net-gain from a data-center ... as long as it supplies its own water and power.

Do you really want Zombies  talking to each-other ... say_nothing of pimping their afternoon tea ? I mean ... we've been thru lots of such scenarios in "realistic" Sci-Fi for the last 75 years. Such Zombie-on-Zombie talk-fests have not turned-out so well for humans . You know the old saying ...' fool me once it's your fault : fool me twice ...  '

It sounds like assumptions are being made about the cause. Gut bacteria have been shown to have a direct influence on mental health. How do they know this affect isn't something akin to that?

It means "you CAN eat a huge variety of things."

Or, you should eat a variety of things, rather. Right?

But, you do own one.

Not only that, but the cache-ing is happening in RAM -- not directly to the disc. I'm actually very skeptical this actually works outside of their contrived conditions.