Improving state capacity without ensuring the state is aligned to human values is just as bad as working on AI capabilities without ensuring that the AI is aligned to human values. The last few years have drastically reduced my confidence in “state alignment” even in so-called “liberal” democracies.
Lol full alignment of the state is not exactly a historically proud tradition… there were several notable efforts to align all the various sectors for the greater capacity of the state and society, strengthening all involved like how many small sticks bound together forms a much more robust whole.
Improving state capacity without ensuring the state is aligned to human values is just as bad as working on AI capabilities without ensuring that the AI is aligned to human values. The last few years have drastically reduced my confidence in “state alignment” even in so-called “liberal” democracies.
Agreed. Voting reform and forecasting are already getting attention from some in EA and should be integrated into this larger project IMO.
Lol full alignment of the state is not exactly a historically proud tradition… there were several notable efforts to align all the various sectors for the greater capacity of the state and society, strengthening all involved like how many small sticks bound together forms a much more robust whole.
Good point. So if we can’t hope for state alignment then that is an even stronger reason to oppose building state capabilities.