I think they are natural to compare because they both have interventions that cash out in short-term measurable outcomes, and can absorb a lot of funding to churn out these outcomes.
Comparing e.g. AI safety and Global Health brings in a lot more points of contention which I expect would make it harder to make progress in a narrowly scoped debate (in terms of pinning down what the cruxes are, actually changing people’s minds etc).
I think I’d rather talk about the important topic even if it’s harder? My concern is, for example, that the debate happens and let’s say people agree and start to pressure for moving $ from GHD to AW. But this ignores a third option, move $ from ‘longtermist’ work to fund both.
Feels like this is a ‘looking under the streetlight because it’s easier effect’ kind of phenomenon.
If Longtermist/​AI Safety work can’t even to begin to cash out measurable incomes that should be a strong case against it. This is EA, we want the things we’re funding to be effective.
Why just compare to Global Health here, surely it should be “Animal Welfare is far more effective per $ than other cause areas’?
I think they are natural to compare because they both have interventions that cash out in short-term measurable outcomes, and can absorb a lot of funding to churn out these outcomes.
Comparing e.g. AI safety and Global Health brings in a lot more points of contention which I expect would make it harder to make progress in a narrowly scoped debate (in terms of pinning down what the cruxes are, actually changing people’s minds etc).
I think I’d rather talk about the important topic even if it’s harder? My concern is, for example, that the debate happens and let’s say people agree and start to pressure for moving $ from GHD to AW. But this ignores a third option, move $ from ‘longtermist’ work to fund both.
Feels like this is a ‘looking under the streetlight because it’s easier effect’ kind of phenomenon.
If Longtermist/​AI Safety work can’t even to begin to cash out measurable incomes that should be a strong case against it. This is EA, we want the things we’re funding to be effective.