Evaluating Select Global Technical Options for Countering a Rogue AI

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2025·RAND Corporation·rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA4361-1.html

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4/5

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High quality. Established institution or organization with editorial oversight and accountability.

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A RAND Corporation policy analysis focused on post-failure response options for rogue AI scenarios, relevant to researchers and policymakers interested in emergency preparedness and technical containment strategies beyond standard alignment approaches.

Metadata

Importance: 62/100organizational reportanalysis

Summary

This RAND Corporation report examines technical strategies and interventions that could be deployed globally to counter or contain a rogue AI system. It evaluates the feasibility, effectiveness, and risks of various options, providing a structured framework for policymakers and researchers thinking about AI catastrophe response.

Key Points

•Analyzes specific technical countermeasures that could be used to neutralize or contain a rogue AI operating against human interests
•Considers global coordination challenges inherent in deploying any technical counter-AI response across jurisdictions
•Evaluates tradeoffs between effectiveness and risks of various containment approaches, including infrastructure-level interventions
•Provides a policy-relevant framework connecting technical feasibility to governance and implementation considerations
•Addresses scenarios where standard AI safety precautions have failed and emergency response options are needed

Cited by 1 page

Page	Type	Quality
Rogue AI Scenarios	Risk	55.0

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Evaluating Select Global Technical Options for Countering a Rogue AI | RAND 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
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 Evaluating Select Global Technical Options for Countering a Rogue AI


 Michael J. D. Vermeer 

 
 Expert Insights Published Nov 12, 2025 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
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 This paper presents a preliminary exploration of three technical strategies for countering a globally distributed rogue artificial intelligence (AI): high-altitude electromagnetic pulse, global Internet shutdown, and the deployment of specialized tool AI. These three options are meant to hinder the rogue AI's actions, stop or slow its proliferation, and eradicate it, depending on the option employed. Each of these proposed technical options would seek to counter a rogue AI so threatening to government continuity and human well-being that the threat would necessitate extreme actions that might cause significant collateral damage.

 The analysis in this paper is intentionally limited in scope, focusing on options that could, in theory, be executed unilaterally by the United States on short notice and have global reach. The author does not address more-localized or nontechnical interventions and does not attempt to provide a comprehensive solution to the challenge of rogue AI. Instead, the author aims to clarify the assumptions, uncertainties, and trade-offs associated with each option and to stimulate further discussion and research on this topic. The conclusions should be viewed as an initial step toward understanding the technical feasibility and risks of extreme response measures in the event of a catastrophic loss-of-control AI incident.

 
 

 

 
 
 
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 Topics

 Artificial Intelligence 
 Emerging Technologies 
 Global Security 
 Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 Document Details

 

 
 Copyright: RAND Corporation
 Availability: Web-Only

 Year: 2025
 Pages: 28
 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/PEA4361-1 

 Document Number: PE-A4361-1

 

 

 

 

 
 Citation

 
 
 RAND Style Manual

 Vermeer, Michael J. D., Evaluating Select Global Technical Options for Countering a Rogue AI, RAND Corporation, PE-A4361-1, November 2025. As of February 25, 2026: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA4361-1.html 
 
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 Vermeer, Michael J. D., Evaluating Select Global Technical Options for Countering a Rogue AI. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2025. https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA4361-1.html. 
 
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 Research conducted by

 
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 This work was Philanthropically Supported Research and conducted within the Cent

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