I think that quote makes it sound like Allan already had a similar worldview and cause prioritisation to EA, but wasnāt aware of or engaged with the EA community (though he doesnāt explicitly say that), and so he still seems like sort-of an example.
It also sounds like he wasnāt actively and individually reached out to by a person from the EA community, but rather just found relevant resources himself and then reached out (to Bostrom). But that still seems like it fits the sort of thing Linch is talking aboutāin this case, maybe the āintervention (for improving the EA-aligned research pipeline)ā was something like Bostromās public writing and talks, which gave Allan a window into this community, which he then joined. And that seems like a good example of a field building intervention?
(But thatās just going from that quote and my vague knowledge of Allan.)
I think the crux to me is to what extent Allanās involvement in EAish AI governance is overdetermined. If, in a world with 75% less public writings on transformative AI of Bostromās calibre, Allan would still be involved in EAish AI governance, then this would point against the usefulness of this step in the pipeline (at least with the Allan anecdote).
I roughly agree, though would also note that the step could be useful by merely speeding up an overdetermined career move, e.g. if Allan wouldāve ended up doing similar stuff anyway but only 5 years later.
I think that quote makes it sound like Allan already had a similar worldview and cause prioritisation to EA, but wasnāt aware of or engaged with the EA community (though he doesnāt explicitly say that), and so he still seems like sort-of an example.
It also sounds like he wasnāt actively and individually reached out to by a person from the EA community, but rather just found relevant resources himself and then reached out (to Bostrom). But that still seems like it fits the sort of thing Linch is talking aboutāin this case, maybe the āintervention (for improving the EA-aligned research pipeline)ā was something like Bostromās public writing and talks, which gave Allan a window into this community, which he then joined. And that seems like a good example of a field building intervention?
(But thatās just going from that quote and my vague knowledge of Allan.)
Fair enough. I guess just depends on exactly how broad/ānarrow of a category Linch was gesturing at.
I think the crux to me is to what extent Allanās involvement in EAish AI governance is overdetermined. If, in a world with 75% less public writings on transformative AI of Bostromās calibre, Allan would still be involved in EAish AI governance, then this would point against the usefulness of this step in the pipeline (at least with the Allan anecdote).
I roughly agree, though would also note that the step could be useful by merely speeding up an overdetermined career move, e.g. if Allan wouldāve ended up doing similar stuff anyway but only 5 years later.
Yes, I agree that speeding up career moves is useful.