Wow I’m mind blown that Yudowsky pays himself that much. If only because it leaves him open to criticisms likt these. I still don’t think the financial incentives are as strong as for people starting an accellerationist company, but its a fair point.
I think the strength of the incentives to behave in a given way is more proportional to the resulting expected increase in welfare than to the expected increase in net earnings. Individual human welfare is often assumed to be proportional to the logarithm of personal consumption. So a given increase in earnings increases welfare less for people earning more. In addition, a 1 % chance of earning 100 times more (for example, due to one’s company being successful) increases welfare less than a 100 % chance of earning 100 % more. More importantly, there are major non-financial benefits for Yudowsky, who is somewhat seen as a prophet in some circles.
I think the strength of the incentives to behave in a given way is more proportional to the resulting expected increase in welfare than to the expected increase in net earnings. Individual human welfare is often assumed to be proportional to the logarithm of personal consumption. So a given increase in earnings increases welfare less for people earning more. In addition, a 1 % chance of earning 100 times more (for example, due to one’s company being successful) increases welfare less than a 100 % chance of earning 100 % more. More importantly, there are major non-financial benefits for Yudowsky, who is somewhat seen as a prophet in some circles.