Iâd distinguish here between the community and actual EA work. The community, and especially its leaders, have undoubtedly gotten more AI-focused (and/âor publicly admittted to a degree of focus on AI theyâve always had) and rationalist-ish. But in terms of actual altruistic activity, I am very uncertain whether there is less money being spent by EAs on animal welfare or global health and development in 2025 than there was in 2015 or 2018. (I looked on Open Philâs website and so far this year it seems well down from 2018 but also well up from 2015, but also 2 months isnât much of a sample.) Not that that means your not allowed to feel sad about the loss of community, but I am not sure we are actually doing less good in these areas than we used to.
Yes, this seems similar to how I feel: I think the major donor(s) have re-prioritized, but am not so sure how many people have switched from other causes to AI. I think EA is more left to the grassroots now, and the forum has probably increased in importance. As long as the major donors donât make the forum all about AIâthen we have to create a new forum! But as donors change towards AI, the forum will inevitable see more AI content. Maybe some functions to âbalanceâ the forum posts so one gets representative content across all cause areas? Much like they made it possible to separate out community posts?
Iâd distinguish here between the community and actual EA work. The community, and especially its leaders, have undoubtedly gotten more AI-focused (and/âor publicly admittted to a degree of focus on AI theyâve always had) and rationalist-ish. But in terms of actual altruistic activity, I am very uncertain whether there is less money being spent by EAs on animal welfare or global health and development in 2025 than there was in 2015 or 2018. (I looked on Open Philâs website and so far this year it seems well down from 2018 but also well up from 2015, but also 2 months isnât much of a sample.) Not that that means your not allowed to feel sad about the loss of community, but I am not sure we are actually doing less good in these areas than we used to.
Yes, this seems similar to how I feel: I think the major donor(s) have re-prioritized, but am not so sure how many people have switched from other causes to AI. I think EA is more left to the grassroots now, and the forum has probably increased in importance. As long as the major donors donât make the forum all about AIâthen we have to create a new forum! But as donors change towards AI, the forum will inevitable see more AI content. Maybe some functions to âbalanceâ the forum posts so one gets representative content across all cause areas? Much like they made it possible to separate out community posts?