I feel like all my career path choices are not as good as I want them to be: (Software Engineer, AI researcher, AI alignment researcher, all-in with PauseAI)
I am 19 and a second-year university student studying computer science. I am very bought-into AI X/S-Risk and I want to help prevent these risks somehow.
Path 1: Software Engineer:
I will have a bachelors in 2026 and I can start earning to give towards X-risk orgs.
Pro: If the singularity is near <10 years (My belief), i would be able to have an impact in time.
Pro: Financially correct if there will not be jobs in 10 years.
Con: Programming will be automated before my other career path choices. Even by 2026, the job market might be partially or completely automated.
Con: Not as exciting as doing something in AI or AI safety
Path 2: AI researcher: Work at top-AI lab likely doing capabilities research
Pro: Last job to be automated
Pro: Chance of extremely high pay
Con: Against my values since I would likely accelerate doom scenarios.
Path 3: AI-Alignment researcher for AI-lab or non-profit
Pro: Fits my values
Pro: Last job to be automated
Con: I am skeptical about the impact of alignment research.
Con: Is there money in alignment research???
Con: Working at a top AI lab would still likely be against my values.
Path 4: All-in with PauseAI and do grunt work outreach
Pro: Given <10 year timelines, this could have the most impact
Con: My parents think i’m crazy, I don’t make money.
Give me career advice
I feel like all my career path choices are not as good as I want them to be: (Software Engineer, AI researcher, AI alignment researcher, all-in with PauseAI)
I am 19 and a second-year university student studying computer science. I am very bought-into AI X/S-Risk and I want to help prevent these risks somehow.
Path 1: Software Engineer:
I will have a bachelors in 2026 and I can start earning to give towards X-risk orgs.
Pro: If the singularity is near <10 years (My belief), i would be able to have an impact in time.
Pro: Financially correct if there will not be jobs in 10 years.
Con: Programming will be automated before my other career path choices. Even by 2026, the job market might be partially or completely automated.
Con: Not as exciting as doing something in AI or AI safety
Path 2: AI researcher: Work at top-AI lab likely doing capabilities research
Pro: Last job to be automated
Pro: Chance of extremely high pay
Con: Against my values since I would likely accelerate doom scenarios.
Path 3: AI-Alignment researcher for AI-lab or non-profit
Pro: Fits my values
Pro: Last job to be automated
Con: I am skeptical about the impact of alignment research.
Con: Is there money in alignment research???
Con: Working at a top AI lab would still likely be against my values.
Path 4: All-in with PauseAI and do grunt work outreach
Pro: Given <10 year timelines, this could have the most impact
Con: My parents think i’m crazy, I don’t make money.
Path 5: Other
Any other ideas?