So when it comes to “programs we’d like to see” including “a comprehensive investigation into FTX<>EA connections / problems,” I take it that you disagree with that recommendation
To be clear, I’d still like to see this, it’s just that I probably don’t see it as urgent as you seem to. I was trying to represent the arguments on the other side of the issue—I personally fall somewhere in-between.
The penthouse wasn’t really a secret, but it wasn’t publicized. When I saw that, it seemed weird, but more like a minor yellow flag, in comparison to all the craziness that startups can be like.
My quick, incredibly personal opinion, is that the task of “doing serious investigation and negotiation, regarding the EA+FTX relationship”, is a task no EA organization really owned. Open Phil didn’t want to own this, as they were sort of a competitor. CEA wasn’t well placed for this, in part because they were a significant donee of FTX. I think there has been a serious gap that we don’t have significant evaluation/investigation into the funders themselves, but this is an awkward topic (the funders are often the most powerful actors, and don’t like being investigated). I think there were enough yellow/red flags around that if a serious and lengthy investigation would have happened, it might have revealed interesting insights. I am excited about the investigation type work we proposed.
I’d also flag that I think there’s a fairly unhealthy power imbalance in EA. A gigantic amount of funding and power comes from OP. This is awkward because they would likely be some of the main people organizing/funding such an FTX investigation, so that might well change incentives around it revealing public information about mistakes that they made.
I’d really like to see more diversified funding and leadership around the future of EA.
To be clear, I’d still like to see this, it’s just that I probably don’t see it as urgent as you seem to. I was trying to represent the arguments on the other side of the issue—I personally fall somewhere in-between.
The penthouse wasn’t really a secret, but it wasn’t publicized. When I saw that, it seemed weird, but more like a minor yellow flag, in comparison to all the craziness that startups can be like.
https://www.facebook.com/ozzie.gooen/posts/pfbid034iQ1W3e4f1ovuoN7W4DsQBpQMxus7L8zqWqf5boed6z7fm2UsDAPZg9puxxHoYubl
My quick, incredibly personal opinion, is that the task of “doing serious investigation and negotiation, regarding the EA+FTX relationship”, is a task no EA organization really owned. Open Phil didn’t want to own this, as they were sort of a competitor. CEA wasn’t well placed for this, in part because they were a significant donee of FTX. I think there has been a serious gap that we don’t have significant evaluation/investigation into the funders themselves, but this is an awkward topic (the funders are often the most powerful actors, and don’t like being investigated). I think there were enough yellow/red flags around that if a serious and lengthy investigation would have happened, it might have revealed interesting insights. I am excited about the investigation type work we proposed.
I’d also flag that I think there’s a fairly unhealthy power imbalance in EA. A gigantic amount of funding and power comes from OP. This is awkward because they would likely be some of the main people organizing/funding such an FTX investigation, so that might well change incentives around it revealing public information about mistakes that they made.
I’d really like to see more diversified funding and leadership around the future of EA.