Executive summary: Given the potential for AI-driven economic upheaval and locked-in wealth inequality, now may be an unusually good time to prioritize Earning To Give—especially for those with lucrative career prospects—so they can later redistribute wealth in a way that mitigates future harms.
Key points:
AI is likely to significantly reduce white-collar job availability by 2030 while also driving enormous GDP growth, leading to unprecedented and entrenched wealth inequality.
Those who accumulate wealth before their labor becomes replaceable may have a unique opportunity to do significant good, as future redistribution mechanisms could be limited.
If AI-induced economic concentration leads to a “technocratic feudal hierarchy,” wealthy altruists could become rare actors capable of steering resources toward helping the destitute.
The geopolitical implications of AI-driven economic shifts may further restrict wealth distribution, particularly under nationalistic policies that prioritize domestic citizens over global needs.
While directly working on AI alignment or governance remains a higher priority, individuals without a clear path in those areas might do more good by aggressively pursuing wealth now to give later.
The author personally considers shifting from a military career to high-earning finance roles, weighing whether Earning To Give would be more impactful than working in longtermist EA organizations.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.
Executive summary: Given the potential for AI-driven economic upheaval and locked-in wealth inequality, now may be an unusually good time to prioritize Earning To Give—especially for those with lucrative career prospects—so they can later redistribute wealth in a way that mitigates future harms.
Key points:
AI is likely to significantly reduce white-collar job availability by 2030 while also driving enormous GDP growth, leading to unprecedented and entrenched wealth inequality.
Those who accumulate wealth before their labor becomes replaceable may have a unique opportunity to do significant good, as future redistribution mechanisms could be limited.
If AI-induced economic concentration leads to a “technocratic feudal hierarchy,” wealthy altruists could become rare actors capable of steering resources toward helping the destitute.
The geopolitical implications of AI-driven economic shifts may further restrict wealth distribution, particularly under nationalistic policies that prioritize domestic citizens over global needs.
While directly working on AI alignment or governance remains a higher priority, individuals without a clear path in those areas might do more good by aggressively pursuing wealth now to give later.
The author personally considers shifting from a military career to high-earning finance roles, weighing whether Earning To Give would be more impactful than working in longtermist EA organizations.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.