It would be good to have a longer list of important research areas, so that we can all walk around with a cache of important research topics in case we run into EAs working in nearby areas. Then it can become common knowledge that it is useful for such people to perform literature reviews or to settle into those fields. Personally, I’m interested in the domain of risky emerging technologies, so I can list some related areas:
Since we’re on the topic of brain emulation, I feel the need to plug my paper:
https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jagi.2013.4.issue-3/jagi-2013-0008/jagi-2013-0008.xml
Which is a fair bit shorter than the Sandberg/ Bostrom paper, and also I think presents a more feasible path to WBE. My paper suggests scanning the brain via nanotechnology, while they suggest scanning through methods that seem like simple extensions of current brain scanning techniques.
Hi Ryan, do you know of anybody in the EA space working on BCI, either on development or ethical considerations. BCI is mentioned surprisingly infrequently here.
It would be good to have a longer list of important research areas, so that we can all walk around with a cache of important research topics in case we run into EAs working in nearby areas. Then it can become common knowledge that it is useful for such people to perform literature reviews or to settle into those fields. Personally, I’m interested in the domain of risky emerging technologies, so I can list some related areas:
Brain computer interfaces. For an old overview see Marblestone, Adam H., et al. “Physical principles for scalable neural recording.” arXiv preprint arXiv:1306.5709 (2013). (for folks in optogenetics, biophysics, medical imaging, electrical engineering, perhaps chemical engineering, …)
Brain emulation. For an old overview, see Sandberg, Anders, and Nick Bostrom. “Whole brain emulation: a roadmap, future of humanity institute.” (2008): 2008-3. (for physicists and engineers who work on microscopy, as well as all of the above)
Changes in lie detection (medical imaging analysis, neuroscience)
Changes in surveillance tech (cybersecurity)
Changes in nootropics (medics, pharmaceuticals)
Changes in other military tech (defence, mechanical engineering, cybersecurity, …), et cetera
Good list!
Since we’re on the topic of brain emulation, I feel the need to plug my paper: https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/jagi.2013.4.issue-3/jagi-2013-0008/jagi-2013-0008.xml Which is a fair bit shorter than the Sandberg/ Bostrom paper, and also I think presents a more feasible path to WBE. My paper suggests scanning the brain via nanotechnology, while they suggest scanning through methods that seem like simple extensions of current brain scanning techniques.
(Commenting 3 years late in case other readers find their way to this comment from 80,000 Hours’ Research questions that could have a big social impact, organised by discipline.)
Strongly agree.
I collect some relevant questions and sources for several of these topics here, here, and here, which readers might find useful.
Hi Ryan, do you know of anybody in the EA space working on BCI, either on development or ethical considerations. BCI is mentioned surprisingly infrequently here.
Any resources to recommend on “Changes in lie detection (medical imaging analysis, neuroscience)”?