I think it’s deeply unfortunate if a lot of people are getting turned off AI safety as a cause area because they can’t break into the field. I also think the calls for urgency are justified on impact grounds. Maybe there are low-cost ways to help rejected applicants feel better? I like the idea of publishing application statistics or offering tailored advice to rejected applicants, though the latter is really expensive
It seems like a lot of people are rejected by Harvard or Google, but are able to pivot to other Ivy League colleges or FAANG companies. At worst, there are second-tier colleges and companies to apply to. I’m not sure this is the case in AI safety, as the field is still very small (2-4k FTEs). It seems like the best thing many rejected applicants can do is apply for a CS PhD or work in a regular tech company to build their skills, which can be deeply unsatisfying for impact-driven people who think AGI is near (as I do).
I think it’s deeply unfortunate if a lot of people are getting turned off AI safety as a cause area because they can’t break into the field. I also think the calls for urgency are justified on impact grounds. Maybe there are low-cost ways to help rejected applicants feel better? I like the idea of publishing application statistics or offering tailored advice to rejected applicants, though the latter is really expensive
It seems like a lot of people are rejected by Harvard or Google, but are able to pivot to other Ivy League colleges or FAANG companies. At worst, there are second-tier colleges and companies to apply to. I’m not sure this is the case in AI safety, as the field is still very small (2-4k FTEs). It seems like the best thing many rejected applicants can do is apply for a CS PhD or work in a regular tech company to build their skills, which can be deeply unsatisfying for impact-driven people who think AGI is near (as I do).