EA Forum Podcast (All audio)

Introduction

I’m Zach, the new CEO of the Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA). As I step into my role, I want to explain the principles that I think make EA special and share how CEA will continue to promote them.

In this post, I will:

• Highlight the principles that I think are core to EA, and explain why CEA will continue to promote them above and beyond any single or set of cause area(s).

• Explain what being principles-first means in practice for CEA[1].

• Explain how encouraging people to act on EA principles can still lead to some prioritization decisions between causes, how CEA has navigated those decisions in the past, and what factors influence those decisions.
• Share a little bit about my background and how I’ve personally engaged with these principles.

CEA will continue a “principles-first” approach to EA

In my role at CEA, I embrace an [...]

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Outline:

(00:06) Introduction

(01:04) CEA will continue a “principles-first” approach to EA

(03:33) Why principles-first?

(09:58) What exactly does principles-first mean for CEA?

(10:40) Sometimes we’ll prioritize some causes over others

(12:05) Cause prioritization examples

(14:53) Factors that shape CEA's cause prioritization

(19:50) The role of principles in my path through EA

(23:48) Acknowledgments

The original text contained 16 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

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First published:

August 20th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/jPDByBkEdPt2SF2LL/cea-will-continue-to-take-a-principles-first-approach-to-ea

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

There is a good post exploring sickle cell disease, here: [Cause Exploration Prizes] Sickle Cell Disease — EA Forum (effectivealtruism.org). This is a good starting point before reading this one.

Effective Help[1] is a small EA-inspired Cameroonian[2] organization trying to identify local cost-effective projects. We analysed data from 39 local projects and found one standing out, a small monthly cash transfer to families with a child or more suffering from sickle cell anaemia. We decided to partner with the NGO carrying out this project and raise funds for it.

We think this is a good way forward for us. Please go through our thinking below and tell us how to improve.

Questions:

1. How bad is sickle cell anaemia in Sub-Saharan Africa (Cameroon in particular) for those who suffer it?
2. Are cash transfers to families with children suffering from this problem a cost-effective form of reducing mortality and [...]

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First published:

August 16th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/cTRpwcwtz9SBJdGwT/critique-our-position-sickle-cell-anaemia-in-sub-saharan

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

The identifiable victim effect is a psychological phenomenon that describes how people are more likely to offer help or feel empathy when presented with a specific, identifiable individual in need, rather than a larger, anonymous group. When victims are given names, faces, or personal stories, it becomes easier for them to relate.

People are more likely to help a specific, identifiable individual in need

Studies have shown that this is also the case for farmed animals, and that this effect can be limited to a single-identifiable victim (i.e., the singularity effect, the phenomenon where people are more motivated to help a single victim than a group of victims, even when the group is small). Identifying a victim can be seen as a solution to scope insensitivity; people undervalue the scale of a problem when presented with statistics. That insight is the basis of storytelling—showing individuals turns numbers into faces [...]

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Outline:

(02:57) What is a Story?

(05:01) Language Hides the Animal's Story

(06:46) How Can We Tell Individual Stories?

(08:29) The Camera On Animal Tool

(09:37) The Story of Tom

(11:17) Possible Objections to Individual-Focused Advocacy

(12:05) Open Questions Regarding Animal Storytelling

(12:39) Conclusion

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First published:

August 18th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/kzJBgcYhzBF6ZP9JH/are-we-leaving-the-individual-behind-the-role-of-animal

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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This is a link post.

Summary

If AI progress continues on its current trajectory, the developers of advanced AI systems—and the governments who house those developers—will accrue tremendous wealth and technological power.

In this post, I consider how and why US government[1] may want to internationally share some benefits accrued from advanced AI—like financial benefits or monitored access to private cutting-edge AI models. Building on prior work that discusses international benefit-sharing primarily from a global welfare or equality lens, I examine how strategic benefit-sharing could unlock international agreements that help all agreeing states and bolster global security.

Two “use cases” for strategic benefit-sharing in international AI governance:

1. Incentivizing states to join a coalition on safe AI development
2. Securing the US’ lead in advanced AI development to allow for more safety work

I also highlight an important, albeit fuzzy, distinction between benefit-sharing and power-sharing:

• Benefit-sharing: Sharing AI-derived benefits [...]

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Outline:

(00:10) Summary

(02:07) Introduction

(04:43) What types of international AI governance agreements could strategic benefit-sharing (and power-sharing) unlock?

(07:13) Benefit-sharing vs power-sharing: An important, fuzzy distinction

(09:12) What AI-derived benefits could the USG share with other states?

(11:15) Financial and resource-based benefits

(12:47) Frontier AI benefits

(16:46) ‘Seats at the table’ for decision-making related to AI development

(18:52) Empowering other states national security

(20:42) Other benefits

(21:23) Two key considerations for benefit-sharing

The original text contained 12 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

The original text contained 1 image which was described by AI.

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First published:

August 16th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/GGHbGDpNaqx99qxRH/sharing-the-ai-windfall-a-strategic-approach-to

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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Crossposted from the AI Impacts Blog. This is a snapshot of a new page on the AI Impacts Wiki.

We’ve made a list of arguments[1] that AI poses an existential risk to humanity. We’d love to hear how you feel about them in the comments, or in the poll on the LessWrong crosspost version.

Competent non-aligned agents

Humans increasingly lose games to the best AI systems. If AI systems become similarly adept at navigating the real world, will humans also lose out? (Image: Midjourney)

Summary:

1. Humans will build AI systems that are 'agents', i.e. they will autonomously pursue goals
2. Humans won’t figure out how to make systems with goals that are compatible with human welfare and realizing human values
3. Such systems will be built or selected to be highly competent, and so gain the power to achieve their goals
4. Thus the future will be primarily controlled by AIs [...]

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Outline:

(00:25) Competent non-aligned agents

(02:01) Second species argument

(03:52) Loss of control via inferiority

(05:30) Loss of control via speed

(07:04) Human non-alignment

(08:27) Catastrophic tools

(10:00) Powerful black boxes

(11:35) Multi-agent dynamics

(12:49) Large impacts

(14:19) Expert opinion

The original text contained 4 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

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First published:

August 14th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/WGNufK8TofHRSji9c/ten-arguments-that-ai-is-an-existential-risk

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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Open Philanthropy needs more recruiters. We’d love to see you apply, even if you’ve never worked in hiring before.

"Recruiting” is sometimes used to narrowly refer to headhunting or outreach. At Open Phil, though, “recruiting” includes everything related to the hiring process. Our recruiting team manages the systems and people that take us from applications to offers. We design evaluations, interview candidates, manage stakeholders, etc.[1]

We’re looking for:

• An operations mindset. Recruiting is project management, first and foremost; we want people who can reliably juggle lots of balls without dropping them. 
• Interpersonal skills. We want clear communicators with good people judgment. 
• Interest in Open Phil's mission. This is an intentionally broad definition–see below!

What you don’t need:

• Prior recruiting experience. We’ll teach you! 
• To be well-networked or highly immersed in EA. You should be familiar with the areas Open Phil works in (such as global health and [...]

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Outline:

(00:36) We’re looking for:

(01:04) What you don’t need:

The original text contained 1 footnote which was omitted from this narration.

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First published:

August 16th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/9qGhQAST9mpcLMsPy/open-philanthropy-is-hiring-people-to-help-hire-more-people

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

The following report is also available at the website of Allied Scholars for Animal Protection.

Background

This study examined the state of animal advocacy and number of events held by vegan and animal advocacy student groups at the top 100 U.S. universities. Our central research questions were:

• How many events were held to educate students, especially non- vegans, on veganism and animal welfare?
• Why is animal advocacy ineffective in universities? Why is animal advocacy unsustainable in universities?
• How many advocacy events were held recently by university student groups?
• What can we learn from other student organizations in building a sustainable movement?

We also conducted a qualitative survey of several influential animal advocacy professionals regarding their views on the state of campus animal advocacy.

Thanks to the following individuals for their contributions and insights:

• Dr. Courtney Dillard, Mercy for Animals
• Nicole Rawling, JD, Material Innovation Initiative 
• Aidan Kanyoku [...]

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Outline:

(00:22) Background

(01:41) Key Findings

(02:58) Method Overview

(04:32) Results

(04:35) How Many Advocacy Groups Are Active?

(06:13) How Often Do Active Groups Hold Events?

(07:34) Discussion

(08:29) What Does Effective Movement-Building Look Like?

(08:48) The Federalist Society

(10:02) Cru

(11:36) The Good Food Institute

(12:57) Effective Altruism Community Building

(14:53) The Animal Legal Defense Fund

(16:22) Vegan Outreach

(18:01) Other Attempts at Sparking a Campus Animal Rights Movement

(19:33) Vegan Movement Building Has Unique Challenges

(20:45) Reasons for hope

(22:19) Survey of Professional Animal Advocates

(25:04) Conclusion

(27:17) Caveats and Limitations

The original text contained 1 footnote which was omitted from this narration.

The original text contained 1 image which was described by AI.

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First published:

August 15th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/NCoFiDGBanHq7EKSz/report-the-broken-state-of-animal-advocacy-in-universities

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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We just published an interview: Jonathan Birch on the edge cases of sentience and why they matter. Listen on Spotify, watch on Youtube, or click through for other audio options, the transcript, and related links. Below are the episode summary and some key excerpts.

Episode summary

In the 1980s, it was still apparently common to perform surgery on newborn babies without anaesthetic on both sides of the Atlantic. This led to appalling cases, and to public outcry, and to campaigns to change clinical practice. And as soon as [some courageous scientists] looked for evidence, it showed that this practice was completely indefensible and then the clinical practice was changed.

People don’t need convincing anymore that we should take newborn human babies seriously as sentience candidates. But the tale is a useful cautionary tale, because it shows you how deep that overconfidence can run and how problematic it can be. [...]

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Outline:

(00:28) Episode summary

(02:19) Highlights

(02:22) The history of neonatal surgery without anaesthetic

(04:45) Overconfidence around disorders of consciousness

(08:02) Separating abortion from the issue of foetal sentience

(11:23) The cases for and against neural organoids

(15:10) Artificial sentience arising from whole brain emulations of roundworms and fruit flies

(20:25) Using citizens assemblies to do policymaking

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First published:

August 16th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/kf3ttuWghvF2TeL6R/196-the-edge-cases-of-sentience-and-why-they-matter-jonathan

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

This is a link post.

If you enjoy this, please consider subscribing to my Substack.

My latest reporting went up in The Nation yesterday:

It's about the tech industry's meltdown in response to SB 1047, a California bill that would be the country's first significant attempt to mandate safety measures from developers of AI models more powerful and expensive than any yet known.

Rather than summarize that story, I’ve added context from some past reporting as well as new reporting on two big updates from yesterday: a congressional letter asking Newsom to veto the bill and a slate of amendments.

The real AI divide

After spending months on my January cover story in Jacobin on the AI existential risk debates, one of my strongest conclusions was that the AI ethics crowd (focused on the tech's immediate harms) and the x-risk crowd (focused on speculative, extreme risks) should recognize their shared [...]

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Outline:

(00:56) The real AI divide

(03:18) The congressional letter

(05:58) The turning tides

(09:29) Capitalism vs. democracy

(10:15) Yesterday's amendments to SB 1047

The original text contained 1 image which was described by AI.

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First published:

August 16th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/snto3JZs6HrgvsoJG/the-tech-industry-is-the-biggest-blocker-to-meaningful-ai

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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This chart is so right. The local charity environment in Cameroon is probably helping much less people than you imagine. We ran an effectiveness contest that aligns with this research perfectly.

In 2021 we created an EA group in Cameroon. We had multiple seminars covering the basics of Effective Altruism. By the end of 2022, the group got so excited that we created a charity.

“We” are a group of humanitarian/development workers in Cameroon, all currently employed in this field of work. Some of the basic EA principles resonated a lot. Such as the feeling that some activities and projects don’t really help much and that somewhere, sometimes, there is “real impact”.

So we created this charity to help steer organizations towards real impact, and help them become “more effective”. We tried a couple of things:

We offered consultancy services, starting for free, to local charities.

We started a [...]

The original text contained 1 footnote which was omitted from this narration.

The original text contained 1 image which was described by AI.

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First published:

August 16th, 2024

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/TcMhE3SypnE9oLpoE/this-chart-is-right-most-interventions-don-t-do-much

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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