But I think the more important question is: what will the ultimate impact on public image be when EA really needs public support (e.g., for AI regulation) against powerful interests (e.g., big tech companies pushing toward AGI) who have every incentive to educate (fairly or otherwise) the public about SBF/EA connections?
Right now, the question has low salience even for the minority who have heard of EA. I’m not sure how well low-salience opinion will correlate to opinion after all sides take their best shots on a high-salience issue.
But I think the more important question is: what will the ultimate impact on public image be when EA really needs public support (e.g., for AI regulation) against powerful interests (e.g., big tech companies pushing toward AGI) who have every incentive to educate (fairly or otherwise) the public about SBF/EA connections?
Right now, the question has low salience even for the minority who have heard of EA. I’m not sure how well low-salience opinion will correlate to opinion after all sides take their best shots on a high-salience issue.