What surprised me the most was that EAs and alignment researchers are more extroverted on average.
In hindsight, I suppose it makes sense. The average alignment researcher I’ve met interacts way more than the average person, certainly the average male, (conferences, communities, research groups, organising parties etc.).
It really contradicted my assumptions, because EA events are unusually introvert-friendly and online communications for EA/alignment are wayyyyy more text-heavy than most communities.
I wonder how much of that is a selection pressure? For me, I’m strongly introverted, but I probably could not have done AI Safety without actively socialising and reaching out to people very frequently.
What surprised me the most was that EAs and alignment researchers are more extroverted on average.
In hindsight, I suppose it makes sense. The average alignment researcher I’ve met interacts way more than the average person, certainly the average male, (conferences, communities, research groups, organising parties etc.).
It really contradicted my assumptions, because EA events are unusually introvert-friendly and online communications for EA/alignment are wayyyyy more text-heavy than most communities.
I wonder how much of that is a selection pressure? For me, I’m strongly introverted, but I probably could not have done AI Safety without actively socialising and reaching out to people very frequently.