I’m skeptical that they increase quality-adjusted work going into the area much (particularly if you subtract the value of the work that people would have done if not for the contest).
I’m skeptical that they better-distribute work within the area well.
I’m skeptical that they redistribute money well.
I’m skeptical that they have much other benefits.
(Edit: that said, some contests can certainly achieve #1, and some can certainly have substantial other benefits.)
As one datapoint, the time spent on my entry to the original worldview prize was strictly additive. I have a grant to do AI safetystuff part time, and I still did all of that work; the work I didn’t do that week was all non-AI business.
It’s extremely unlikely that I would have written that post without the prize or some other financial incentive. So, to the extent that my post had value, the prize helped make it happen.
That said, when I saw another recent prize, I did notice the incentive for me to conceal information to increase the novelty of my submission. I went ahead and posted that information anyway because that’s not the kind of incentive I want to pay attention to, but I can see how the competitive frame could have unwanted side effects.
Even more specifically, it would be helpful to confirm that work published on or after the date of the Future Fund’s announcement on 23rd Sep 2022 is eligible (if that is actually the case).
Hi Zach, thanks for the question and apologies for the long delay in my response. I’m happy to confirm that work posted after September 23 2022 (and before whatever deadline we establish) will be eligible for the prize. No need to save your work until the formal announcement.
I’m not sure contests like this are a good idea, but pre-announced contests are better than spontaneous contests in cases like this, so yay.
It would be even better if you clarified that current posts are eligible, so that people don’t save their posts until you announce the details.
What are the reasons against contests like this being a good idea?
I might write this up someday, but briefly:
I’m skeptical that they increase quality-adjusted work going into the area much (particularly if you subtract the value of the work that people would have done if not for the contest).
I’m skeptical that they better-distribute work within the area well.
I’m skeptical that they redistribute money well.
I’m skeptical that they have much other benefits.
(Edit: that said, some contests can certainly achieve #1, and some can certainly have substantial other benefits.)
As one datapoint, the time spent on my entry to the original worldview prize was strictly additive. I have a grant to do AI safetystuff part time, and I still did all of that work; the work I didn’t do that week was all non-AI business.
It’s extremely unlikely that I would have written that post without the prize or some other financial incentive. So, to the extent that my post had value, the prize helped make it happen.
That said, when I saw another recent prize, I did notice the incentive for me to conceal information to increase the novelty of my submission. I went ahead and posted that information anyway because that’s not the kind of incentive I want to pay attention to, but I can see how the competitive frame could have unwanted side effects.
Even more specifically, it would be helpful to confirm that work published on or after the date of the Future Fund’s announcement on 23rd Sep 2022 is eligible (if that is actually the case).
Thanks Jason. I can now confirm that that is indeed the case!
^seconding this question 😊
Hi Zach, thanks for the question and apologies for the long delay in my response. I’m happy to confirm that work posted after September 23 2022 (and before whatever deadline we establish) will be eligible for the prize. No need to save your work until the formal announcement.