"You’re an AI Expert – Not an Influencer" by Max Winga
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Feb 20, 2026
Clear rules for public communication about AI credibility. A contrast between influencer personas and professional credibility. Warnings about partisan hot takes and how opponents can weaponize slips. Advice on keeping politics private and staying disciplined to scale AI risk efforts.
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insights INSIGHT
Two Public Personas And Their Currency
Public communicators in AI occupy two personas: influencers or professionals, and these have different currencies (popularity vs credibility).
Max Winger argues AI experts should adopt the professional role to preserve credibility and trust.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Media-Training Steve Example
Max Winger imagines "media training Steve," a professional who posts about AI but refrains from worm politics to protect credibility.
The example illustrates how off-topic posts alienate audiences and harm influence.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Avoid Off-Topic Political Takes
Avoid posting off-topic political takes that alienate parts of your audience and give opponents easy attacks.
Make only arguments others can repeat and choose the best-case framing anyone could use.
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Prior to my last year at ControlAI, I was a physicist working on technical AI safety research. Like many of those warning about the dangers of AI, I don’t come from a background in public communications, but I’ve quickly learned some important rules. The #1 rule that I’ve seen far too many others in this field break is that You’re an AI Expert - Not an Influencer.
When communicating to an audience, your persona is one of two broad categories: Influencer or Professional
Influencers are individuals who build an audience around themselves as a person. Their currency is popularity and their audience values them for who they are and what they believe, not just what they know.
Professionals are individuals who appear in the public eye as representatives of their expertise or organization. Their currency is credibility and their audience values them for what they know and what they represent, not who they are.
So… let's say you’re trying to be a public figure making a difference about AI risk. You’ve been on a podcast or two, maybe even on The News. You might work at an AI policy organization, or [...]
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Outline:
(00:11) Your hot takes are killing your credibility.
(02:10) STOP - What Would Media Training Steve do?
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